not3: Once again, zanessatroyellasupporter's chapter! I totally luv it!
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CHAPTER FIVE- The Perfect Gift
Sharpay just finished setting the table when she heard the door open. She looked up and ran over to Troy, who had a sullen look in his eyes.
"Troy!" Sharpay said, "Where have you been?"
"Thinking," Troy blankly answered.
Sharpay waited for him to say more. "Well, it's our anniversary soon. Do you have anything to say to that?"
Troy stared at the floor, his eyes filled with memories of high school.
"Troy? Are you okay?" she said, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Troy took a look at the dinner. "I'm not really hungry right now Shar."
Sharpay was taken back at his answer. He was always hungry. Something was wrong.
Troy started for the bedroom. "I'm heading in." He opened the door and walked in.
"Okay," Sharpay wondered what was on his mind. "A girl's instincts are never off. I was sure he was going to propose to me."
Inside the bedroom, something fell to the floor.
"Troy, everything okay?"
"Yeah," he shouted from inside.
Sharpay ate in silence for the first time in several years.
With Troy
Troy reached up into his private corner of the closet and pulled out a photo album. He opened it and looked at all the pictures.
At first, they were ones with Sharpay on vacation to Niagara Falls. Then, as he flipped through the pages, he started to find ones with him and Gabi.
He reached in and pulled out one. This was the one they took when they finished the musical and Troy thought that Gabriella was his true love.
Gabriella was wearing a turquoise, knee-length dress and her hair was falling loosely around her face. Troy had his arm wrapped around her waist. They looked so happy together.
He placed it back and continued to flip through the book to found many pictures of them together.
"Maybe…"
Eventually, the memories became too hard for him to bear. He closed the book and went to sleep.
The Next Morning
Troy awoke and smelled pancakes being made. He got up, showered, and headed out to the kitchen.
"Good morning," Sharpay said perkily, "How are you this morning?"
"Okay," Troy lied. He was still thinking of Gabriella.
Sharpay smiled. "Good, 'cause we're heading to the mall today. I need you to use your muscles to help with the bags."
"Shar, I'm heading out with the guys today," Troy lied again, "We're going to go shoot some hoops."
Sharpay was again taken back at his answer. "I thought they stopped talking to him years ago."
Troy didn't even bother with breakfast. "I'll get some coffee on the way there."
"See ya Troy," Sharpay answered as Troy walked out the door. Again, she ate breakfast in silence.
With Troy
Troy walked out the door and ran to the car. He rushed to the mall and tried to find the perfect present for his daughter. And the women whom he still loved.
He was browsing the doll section of the store when someone came up and said, "Need any help?"
Troy turned around and faced the girl. She had an uncanny resemblance to Gabriella. "Umm, I'm doing good, but if you could tell me what's the best gift for a 6-year old?"
The woman smiled. "You might wanna try…"
Troy spotted her. Gabriella. She was with Chole, who was admiring a bright pink bicycle.
He walked closer, trying to hear what they were saying without getting too close.
With Gabriella and Chole
"Mommy," Chole said, tugging at her mother's skirt, "May I get a bike for my birthday?"
Gabriella smiled at her daughter. "I'm sorry Chole, but I don't have the money for it right now. Maybe in a month or so."
Chole understood. "Okay mommy. When can we go home and have cake?"
"Soon. Let's go. We need to get some things for Uncle Zeke to bake the cake with."
"Alright," Chole followed her mother as she lead her away.
With Troy
Troy ran up to the bike and looked at it. He called the salesperson over. "Ma'am, I'd like to purchase this bike."
"Okay, if you'll follow me."
Troy smiled. He paid for the bike, took it out to his car, and placed it in his trunk. "Now, for Gabriella?"
He rushed back into the mall, looking throughout all the stores. From to clothes to perfume to trinkets. He couldn't find the right thing.
But then he spotted it. He quickly paid for it and ran to his car. "Gabi, I'm coming for ya."
With Sharpay
It was nearing noon. Sharpay went to go change her clothes when she saw the photo album lying open on the floor. She ran over and picked it up.
She took a glance in and saw all the pictures of Troy and Gabriella. She closed it and scoffed. "That never happened as far as I know."
She went to her closet when she suddenly saw the note that Troy had written to himself.
"Remember: It's Chole's birthday tomorrow. Head over to Gabriella's and make amends."
Sharpay thought back for a second. "Chole? Wasn't that the name of the little girl that was at the Wal-Mart the other day?"
She brushed it off when she remembered that it said to go to Gabriella's to make amends.
"So that's where he's going! Well, I guess I'll just head over myself. Troy's pointed it out to me a couple times before."
Sharpay took her usual hour and a half getting ready. Then she grabbed her car keys and headed over to Gabriella's.