Operation: Happy End

"I love you!" Troy whispered to Sharpay's ear.

"I love you more," she said, and leaning closer to him, she kissed him once more.

"Wow! Does that mean I am the third guy for you today? I mean, you kissed Ryan, then Mark and now its me!" Troy made an attempt to joke. "Maybe you should start a kissing booth!"

"Oh, shut up you silly! You've always been the one and only!" Sharpay cried, and kissed Troy again.

Mark could see from the window of the empty classroom two figures in the distance leaning closer and share happy moments, unbothered by the rain. He was sure it was Troy and Sharpay. He kept on watching, a little melancholic until he saw the silhouettes moving away and away. Why should they come back, anyway? Mark had never felt more alone. Going back to the Dance room could not heal him, but it could as well be a consolation.

As he walked across a corridor, he felt he stumbled upon someone. "I'm sorry," he gasped as his gaze met Gabriella's. He then realized that he was looking at her for the very first time. His mind had been so preoccupied with Sharpay that he didn't have time to notice any other girls. So… that was the infamous ex-girlfriend of Troy Bolton! She wasn't bad looking at all, with her short brown her, her sweet almost innocent eyes and her lovely smile… Well, she wasn't smiling right now, but Mark could imagine.

No! What was he thinking! His mind and heart would for always be devoted to Sharpay! Still, as he gazed into Gabriella's dreamy eyes –and she was looking back at him- he had that bittersweet feeling… Were his feelings for Sharpay so shallow, that they faded off when he saw Gabriella? Should he accuse himself of what he had previously accused Troy and the others: that their crush was not true? Mark didn't care. After all, Sharpay had rejected him and getting over her was at least… healthy.

"Are we going to talk or what?" Gabriella finally interrupted his thoughts, in a rather harsh way. "I already feel humiliated and having you staring at me like that sends shivers down my spine!"

"I feel that way too!" Mark confessed. After all, there might exist justice for the broken hearted. "Look, Gabriella, you must be mad at me, since I was with Troy in all this but-"

"Mad? I'm no mad at you at all, Mark! Why should I? You had no girlfriend when you entered that race? You behaved, unlike Troy, like a true gentleman!"

"You are being a little harsh on Troy. I just believe he couldn't appreciate what he had…"

"You really think so?" Gabriella's face brightened up.

"Yes, I do. You are a great girl, Gabby! What do you say? It's the Spring Dance. Everything can happen and the magic's still on! Will you join me to the dance floor?"

"Sure!" Gabriella replied excitingly. "Let's seize the chance. "Oh, Mark… thanks!"

Somewhere else in the room, Chad was chasing a furious Taylor. "At least listen to me! It was all a stupid game! You know how men are, right. Taylor, I swear to you, when I got eliminated it was a relief. I missed you so terribly, I was glad to quit! Taylor, have I ever told you… I love you?"

"You what?" Taylor asked, stunned.

"I love you! You are beautiful and elegant and smart and you bring out the best in me. Sharpay is a sore loser compared to you!"

"You really believe that?" Taylor raised an eyebrow. "I'm glad to hear that Chad. I feel the same, and in that way, I may be able to give you a second chance."

"Yes!" Chad jumped in the air. At the same time, in another corner of the very same cafeteria, a similar scene took place, as Jason was confessing his love to Kelsi, or to be more accurate, singing it.

"It's hard to believe… that I couldn't see, you were always there besides me. This feeling's like no other. I want you to know I've never had someone that knows me like you do… I've never had someone as good for me as you, no one like you. So lonely before, I finally found what I've been looking for!"

"Hehe…" Kelsi seemed amused. "I didn't know you were tone deaf, Jason!"

Jason looked disappointed. "It's no use. First I make you feel terrible, and then I ruin your song!"

"You didn't ruin that song! Quite on the contrary, you grasped its real purpose. Neither Troy nor Ryan could have been more true to the lyrics… Thank you Jason. I believe I'll forgive you. After all, you are the music in me!"

"Of course I am, my little Sondheim!" Jason exclaimed, grasping Kelsi so she couldn't escape his hug.

Still, for some, things were not as easy. Zeke felt like the biggest looser. Sharpay didn't like him, it was obvious. The just as beautiful Evelyn didn't even want to see him, because he had had a crush on her feud. Now Zeke walked alone and while anyone else had fun at the party, he seemed depressed and disappointed.

"Hey Zeke, is that you?" he heard a voice. He turned behind to see a petite girl who he identified as Sabrina the cheerleader. Wait, wasn't she who had a crush on him?

"Hey, Sabrina! Want to dance?"

"Of course I do! That's why I am here! As it seems, I thankfully am the first! A whole army of your fans are coming to ask you for a dance including fellow cheerleaders like Olivia Gladstone and that hip-hopper Martha Cox! I'm so happy I got you first!"

Zeke smiled. Maybe he was a ladies' man after all, and Sabrina seemed, for a change very sweet. It wouldn't hurt to give her a chance. One by one, the basketball players were getting out of this in a most happy way. Still, there was a couple arguing on the room, Troy's parents.

"Leave me alone, Jack! You are just a pervert. How could you? I mean she's a little girl! She's a teenager. She's underage! Did you secretly peek at her when she was undressing in the changing rooms before your class?"

"You are pushing things too far, Lucille! I told you I was sorry! It was all a meaningless game to me. I just wanted to prove to these boys that I'm not finished, and that I can teach them a thing or more about women. I now see that was stupid!"

"Thankfully, you can recognize that! I don't know, I really don't know what keeps me with you now…"

"It's our life together, our true love and Troy!" Jack said and Lucille seemed content with the answer.

"Still," the coach went on, "I have to admit that I like Troy's current girlfriend more than this Gabriella. At least the Drama girl doesn't distract him from practice!"

Everybody was happy, right? As Mrs. Darbus who had organized the dance stood up, everyone waited impatiently to hear the great outcome: who would be the Spring Dance Prince and Princess?"

"The Spring Dance Prince is… Troy Bolton!" the drama teacher exclaimed. Applauses were heard and a dramatic pause occurred before announcing Troy's partner.

"And the Spring Dance Princess is… Sharpay Evans!" Everyone applauded again and turned their eyes in the crowd, wanting to see the winners. But… where were they? They were nowhere to be scene. Well, no problem. Mrs. Darbus raised her shoulders and the couples kept on slow dancing in the tune of "When a Man Loves a Woman." Still, somewhere far away…

"Sharpay, who do you think won the award of the Spring Dance Prince and Princess?" Troy asked as they were gazing at the sky, counting the stars.

"I don't know and I don't care!" she replied, clenching her nails in him, like she didn't want him to go away. "What only matters is that we're here… together!" And, as monotonous as this sounds, she kissed him for the millionth time in a night.

They had been dating for one month. Troy and Sharpay were East High's "it" couple. Mark and Gabriella were dating too. Ryan had finally made peace with his sister, and respected her need to have a boyfriend. Still, the topic of the days wasn't love but the upcoming premiere of the Spring Musical.

"Girls, girls please!" Sharpay yelled. "We need to have that ready for tomorrow night and you dance like amateurs! Angelique and Desiree, what happened? You used to be so magnificent! Gretchen, that was absolutely mediocre! Martina and Florence, I don't believe you forgot the steps!"

"What my sister tries to tell is…" Ryan started. "We're leaving you a whole hour to practice. When we get back, you'd better know these steps…"

As soon as the door closed, the girls indulged in their favourite activity: chitchat!

"Look at how nice he is, I mean, compared to his sister!" Desiree remarked dreamily.

"I love him so much! He is my source of inspiration!" Angelique added.

"Back off girls! Ryan Evans is mine!" Florence got in.

"Of course not, silly! He's mine," Gretchen insisted.

"I know girls!" Martina exclaimed. "We can have a competition, like the basketball team did for Sharpay. I mean, we'll obviously leave Darbus out of this, but why not, it will be fun!"

"That's a very good idea!" One by one the drama girls agreed. Oops! Everything had finished or was everything starting from the beginning again?

The End

Author's Note: So another story ends… It feels weird, since I really enjoyed writing that. Some of you will have spotted another Zack and Cody mention. In the beginning, the "I love you-I love you more" moment is a paraphrase of the classic Trevor and Maddie scene "I hate you-I hate you more" which is regarded as the best Zashley kiss ever. So, did you like the end of the story? Whatever, I won't bother you a lot, let me just go on with the awards!

The Platinum Loyalty Reviewer Award goes to Stessa and chris tea xx, for practically reviewing every chapter! Thank you guys, with your help I am 10 short of reaching 100 reviews. For the same reasons, the Golden Loyalty Reviewer Award goes to xamyxjx, Blueeyedgirl19, doodleswriter357, pinkturtle, charmed4eva112, fibi3 and jade-kwl-name-eva. Wow that's many! Elva is watching you, Jenny1991, Gorgeous Nick Stokes, x Estabanita x, and Stargatecrazy share the Silver Loyalty Reviewer Award!

The Make-Me-Smile Award goes to Christy aka chris tea xx! Her reviews were hilarious! Thank you, for brightening my day! Examples: loser mark. i hate you. i don't like you anymore, GO AWAY JASON! I HATE YOU. Also gets the "Made Point Clear" Award.

The Oracle Award goes to jade-kwl-name-eva, who could predict what would happen next in the story!

Stessa is Ultimate Markpay Fan, and charmed4eva112 is Ultimate Zekepay Fan. For Troypay, you are many…

Valuable Feedback Award goes to Stessa and pinkturtle.

Last Chapter Catch-Up Award goes to countingsheep and sexydreamer.

And… I owe a promise to Katie, aka DramaticStarlet.

Thank you all once again! Angie aka Regina Biance del Mare Azzuro.