Chapter six
Troy looked at himself in the bathroom mirror for a minute and then walked out into the hallway to make his way downstairs. He picked up his pace when he heard the doorbell ring and as he made his way to the door he saw Taylor through the screen door. He smiled and opened it, stepping out into the summer weather.
"Hey, Taylor." He said with a smile.
"I have something for you." She said as she pulled an envelope out of her back jean pocket.
"What is it?" Troy asked as he took it from her.
"I don't know. It's from Gabriella… it was under her mattress." She said as she shook her head and looked at the ground to keep the tears that were forming in her eyes from falling.
"Taylor…" Troy started as he rubbed her arm supportively.
"I'm fine, Troy, honestly. I'm going to go, though." She said with a small smile.
"I'll see you later, okay?" He asked.
"Okay. Bye, Troy." She said as she made her way down the porch steps.
"Bye." Troy said as he opened the front door and stepped into his house.
His heart was pounding as he sat at the kitchen table and looked down at the envelope that had Gabriella's curvy handwriting on it. To Troy on Graduation Day it read. He carefully opened the envelope and his breath caught in his throat when he saw the two Lakers tickets sitting inside it and as he pulled them out, a note fell out of the envelope. He unfolded it and started to read the letter that Gabriella had written.
So I'm sitting here in my room looking at the picture of us at your Christmas party and I decided to write you a letter just in case graduation changes our life and we can no longer be together like we planned. Hopefully when you read this you already know that I love you because I'm planning on telling you on our date, but if you don't and you are realizing that I didn't have enough courage to say it out loud, I love you, Troy Bolton. I just wanted you to know that because you deserve to know and hopefully you feel the same way because my next letter would probably be stained with tears. And hopefully you like your graduation gift. Surprise! See, when I owe someone I keep my word and I'm glad that you're the one I owe. But that's not all I owe you. Yes, you didn't save me from a burning building so I don't owe you my life or anything, but if that's what it comes down to I'd be okay with that. I'd give my life for yours and I'd give my heart to you so that only you could hold on to it. Before you, Troy, I couldn't say any of that and truly mean it. I couldn't open up to anyone since my dad and then you came along. You're nice smile and friendship means so much to me. Well, now I'm just rambling and I'll probably start getting too emotional so I'm going to end this letter. Remember, Troy, I love you and no matter what I always will.
Yours truly,
Gabriella.
Troy was crying now, hysterical wasn't the case, but his tears were falling and landing on the page, smearing the words slightly. He wanted to keep reading so that maybe by the time he finished reading it Gabriella would appear back in his life, but as he looked around his deserted kitchen Gabriella hadn't appeared and now all that he had left of her was a letter.
It was the day of graduation and Chad, Jason, and Zeke were in Troy's kitchen waiting for him to come downstairs as they talked amongst themselves quietly. They were all wearing summer suits and though they should have been happy to be graduating they knew that their best friend was in pain. They didn't even have to see Troy to know that and the Lakers tickets in the middle of the island definitely gave the emotions away. Chad shifted in his spot where he was leaning against the counter and Jason sighed heavily as Zeke shook his head.
They all thought that Gabriella would be back by now. They at least knew that she should be anyway. The police knew who the kidnappers were after investigating more and having Troy identify them at the police station, but Gabriella never showed up. Anthony and Mark were the names of the men that kidnapped Gabriella. They were arrested after trying to rob a bank and they were found out to be East High's gun men. Even after long court sessions and threats, they didn't spill about where Gabriella was and as they sat in jail and watched as Troy was literally brought to a breaking point they still kept it a secret.
As the friends stood in the kitchen they couldn't help, but think about Troy and the way he looked that day when they brought Anthony and Mark to jail. He was mad, scared, and heartbroken all at the same time and they were the ones who had to watch him be torn apart.
They all shook the thoughts out of their heads as Troy appeared in the kitchen and they smiled at him, only getting a shrug back from him.
"Ready?" Troy asked with a sigh.
"Yeah, man. Are you?" Chad asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Troy answered.
The guys nodded and headed outside to their cars. They drove to East High and Troy's friends stood by his side as he saw East High for the first time since the incident. Troy didn't have any emotion on his face at first, but they all saw him start to get mad as he made his way toward his seat. The ceremony went on as planned and Taylor stepped up to make her speech, one that would have been made with Gabriella. She started slowly and sad, but after getting an encouraging smile from Chad she began to get more courage and strength to go on.
"We've been through a lot, class of 2008 and the memories and moments we share together will never be forgotten even if bad grades or crazy hairstyles are." She paused as most people laughed and then continued. "We've gotten through some tough times and hopefully as the years pass we'll stop to think about the fun times and great moments that we had together and hopefully get through more obstacles. So let's make the future brighter, East High, because without us being in this together we all might not be sitting here now. Thank you."
Everyone clapped loudly as Taylor sat back down next to Chad and the ceremony continued. The group of best friends graduated within the hour and spent the rest of the night at graduation parties and get togethers.
Kind of short, I know. Only a few more chapters left! Review!
Much love,
unknownbyhim22