Epilogue
"No Troy, we need to practice!" Sharpay giggled, swatting his hands away from her waist.
"Aw come on, Shar! All work and no play makes Troy cranky!"
"And all play and no work makes Sharpay break out in hives so we're going to practice!" She shot back, hitting a few keys on the piano pointedly.
Troy pouted and did cow eyes and she rolled hers at him. "You are such a baby!" She teased.
"But I'm your baby!" Troy replied, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Okay, okay! One more time then we can take a break!" she compromised wearily and Troy grinned. "Works for me!"
They sang through they're first duet of the show then Troy grabbed Sharpay's hand and pulled her behind him, up the stairs and out the door.
"Where are we going?" She panted as he drove through the streets.
"You'll see." He replied mysteriously. Sharpay sighed and closed her eyes, deciding not to argue. About ten minutes later, Troy parked and jumped about before Sharpay could move. He helped her out of the car and covered her eyes, leading her up a hill.
"Troy, where the heck are you taking me?" Sharpay asked as she tripped over a root.
"You'll see, we're almost there!" Troy replied, walking a few more yards then stopping.
"Okay," He put his arms around her waist and rested his chin so he was looking over her shoulder, "Open your eyes." She opened them and gasped. They were way off in the woods, on a hill that overlooked the town and had an amazing view of the stars.
"Oh my Lanta…" She murmured, staring around in awe.
"Yeah, I love this place." Troy agreed, softly kissing her neck.
"Oh my God, it's so beautiful!"
"Yeah, I come up here whenever Dad gets on my case. It's kinda my spot, I guess…"
"You have a spot?" Sharpay giggled at him.
"Yes I do, fair lady, and you're standing on it!" Troy retorted.
Sharpay laughed threw her arms around his neck, kissing him softly. Troy grinned into the kiss and picked her up, spun around the pulled her down to the ground with him.
He situated her between his legs so she was reclining against them and together they watched the stars grow and fade to morning.
"Just look at that." Mr. Daniels sighed, smiling at Rose, "You did it!"
Rose smiled but it faltered a little and she sat down on the ground. "Oh Rose…" Daniel sighed and sat next to her, "I know what you want but it's against the rules."
"Mr. Daniels, I'll trade anything to stay!" Rose begged desperately.
"Rose, this is just a teenage crush. I know, you never went through them, but they feel like true love when they aren't! You'll stay here and within a week, you and that boy won't even talk to each other!"
"You're wrong!" Rose accused angrily. "I'm right." He corrected patiently. "Rose, you have to say goodbye to him and move on."
"No! No! I refuse!" Rose cried.
"Rose, go say goodbye to Ryan, I'm not going to tell you when you're leaving. Just say goodbye and prepare to move on." Mr. Daniels instructed.
Rose burst into tears and drove to Ryan's house without thinking at all and ran up the steps. Thankfully for her, Ryan answered instead of Naomi.
"Gabriella?! What's the matter?!" Ryan asked frantically, pulling her into his arms quickly.
"I. Don't. Want. To. Leave." She sobbed into his chest.
"Um, you don't have to…?" Ryan didn't grasp what she was saying.
"I-I just want to stay with you!" She hyperventilated.
Ryan got what she was saying, "Oh! Well, can you?" Gabriella just shook her head sadly and clutched his shirt.
"Well then, let's make the best of our time together." Ryan decided, grabbing a hat and leading Gabriella out the door. While they walked, Gabriella wiped her eyes and got a grip, "Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see in a minute." Ryan reassured, holding her hand firmly and leading her into the park.
They walked in an easy silence until they reached the swings and Gabriella ran ahead and got onto one. Ryan chuckled and went behind her, pushing her high so she shrieked and clung to the chains.
"Ryan, you're going to kill me!" She shouted at him.
Ryan smirked at her and jumped onto the other swing, "Never!" Gabriella let her swing slowly sway to a stop and stared at Ryan, who was drawing pictures with his feet. "I can feel you staring; it'd be easier to take a picture." He remarked and Gabriella blushed and looked at the ground while Ryan laughed.
Gabriella jumped off her swing and spun around then lazily dropped to the grass. Ryan followed her and sat on her teasingly while she gasped for breath and shoved him away.
"We should run away." She said suddenly, sitting up quickly.
"Huh?" Ryan asked, his eyes closed.
"Ry, let's run away! Come on, we'll leave now! We won't tell anyone, we'll make new names; new lives!" She rambled excitedly, looking almost feverish.
"Gabriella…" Ryan sighed as he sat up, "We can't."
"Yes we can! We can get on a bus, go to California! Or we could just leave the country! You can change your name to something like Lucas and I'll change my name to something like Vanessa or whatever and we'll start over!" Her eyes were bright in the evening darkness.
Ryan took her hand gently, "Gabriella, I would love to run away with you, make love with you, live forever with you but we can't. No matter where we go, no matter who we become, you will always be Rose and I'll always be Ryan and Mr. Daniels will use that sketchy dead people GPS to find you." He let her down calmly.
Gabriella fell back into the grass dejectedly, "But it's a beautiful dream."
"Yes it is." Ryan agreed, entwining his other hand with hers too. As Ryan slowly drifted into a light sleep, Gabriella kept her eyes open wide, watching the sky for a sign of comfort.
When she was sure he was asleep, she slid closer to him and kissed him gently, "I love you, Ryan…" She murmured then rolled away from him. Ryan sighed but remained asleep.
Hours later, Ryan woke up with the sun and rolled over, "Gabriella…" He murmured. No answer. "Gabriella?" He asked, looking around. Again, no answer. "Gabriella, where are you?" He asked, panicking.
She was gone, he'd lost her! Ryan stumbled up and walked home quickly, pushing past Naomi and Sharpay up to his room. He swung open his door, expecting to see Gabriella lying on his bed or sitting at his desk but nothing was different.
Ryan grabbed the phone and called Gabriella's number but all of the numbers he tried no longer existed. Ryan ran his fingers through his hair frustrated and stormed back into his room and froze.
A single beam of early morning sun was shining right through his window and illuminating a single red rose lying on his pillow. Ryan slowly walked to his bed and picked up the rose delicately in his fingers, lifting it to his nose. He breathed deep, the scent of Gabriella and roses then smiled and walked back downstairs serenely.
"What's that, Ry?" Sharpay asked her mouth full of pancakes, her eyes full of dazed love. Naomi also looked up from the sink and raised her eyebrows at him.
"Oh nothing. It's just Rose…" He laughed, twirling the flower between his fingers and hearing Gabriella giggling from light years away.
So, so, so sorry I didn't update for two weeks! My dog was in and out of the hospital and I wasn't home for a few days so I didn't have time! Anyway, sorry if this is rushed but this was the original ending that I wanted and I know it doesn't really go with the rest of the story but I can't think of a different way! Thank you for all of the feedback and reviews and check out my other stories! XOXO