Chapter 20

Recap

"This is worse than declaring a death sentence!" Gabriella exclaimed in her mind. She suddenly paused and took in a deep breath. Once she turned the corner of the large bushes, she would see the tree that held the truth. She closed her eyes while her feet started moving.

"Here we go." Gabriella opened her eyes and gasped. Tears started rolling down her cheeks for she didn't see one ribbon around the tree………

End of recap

….Instead, she saw about a hundred red ribbons around the big tree. She really couldn't believe what she was seeing. The tree was absolutely beautiful! Suddenly, a certain blue eyed boy came out from behinds the tree with a beautiful bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"Welcome back!" He said cheerfully. He was wearing a white polo shirt with white wife beater underneath, blue faded jeans and white shoes. He looked entirely different.

"Troy? You did all this?" Gabriella said through tears of happiness.

"Well, one ribbon is not enough to show how much I love you. Heck, these ribbons are not enough!" Troy chuckled, staring at the tree.

"I love you Troy!" Gabriella ran over to him as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

"I love you too Gabi and I missed you." Troy whispered to her happily.

"I missed you too Troy!" Gabriella said as they pulled away.

"Wow, you're all in white. You look like an angel Troy." Gabriella giggled as Troy wiped her tears away.

"I have to if my angel's coming back." Troy said as he leaned in. Finally their lips met, sending the same chills that they always get whenever they kissed. Their kiss lasted for very long until air was needed.

"Before I forget, these are for you!" Troy said, handing the bouquet of flowers.

"Thanks Troy! They're beautiful." Gabriella smiled, giving him a peck on the lips.

"Trust me, they're nothing compare to you." Troy smiled.

"You know, I was afraid you weren't gonna get my email." Gabriella said.

"Well…." Troy started as he thought of what happened earlier on that day.

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At 10am that day…

Troy just finished playing basketball. He went to his room and saw his friends still watching TV.

"Troy, why are you beating yourself up??" Sharpay said, keeping her eyes on the TV.

"Because I miss Gabi." Troy said silently.

"Why don't you check your email or something. Maybe Gabi sent you something." Chad shrugged.

"She said she's not gonna stay in contact." Troy said sadly.

"Just check it in case." Taylor said.

Troy rested for a while before checking his email. It was 10:45am when he went to the computer. He didn't really expect anything. There were a lot of emails but there was one that caught his eye.

"Gabriella?" He whispered as he quickly opened the mail. He read through it and accidentally yelled loudly, making the whole house shake. Not literally of course.

"Troy what's going on?!" Jack barged in the door, alarmed.

"Gabi's coming back!!!!" Troy yelled happily as he prepared everything as quickly as possible.

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"Lucky Chad told me to check my email." Troy said happily, as he wrapped his arms around Gabriella.

"He actually said something smart." Gabriella giggled.

"I wanna show you something." Troy smiled as he lead Gabriella to his car.

"What is it?" Gabriella asked as she put on her seat belt.

"Just relax and enjoy the ride." Troy said as Gabriella stared at him suspiciously.

20 minutes have past and Gabriella was starting to wonder.

"Troy where are you taking me? Can't you just give me a hint?" Gabriella whined while Troy just shook his head.

"Please!!!" Gabriella said, giving him her cutest face.

"Gabi please don't make it hard for me. We're almost there." Troy said, trying to focus on the road and not look at Gabriella because he knew that Gabriella could get everything out of Troy.

"Ok." Gabriella replied as she sunk in her seat.

"Do you mind putting a blindfold on?" Troy said, getting a blindfold out of his pocket and giving it to Gabriella.

"Why?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"Just put it on please!" Troy pouted as Gabriella giggled and shook her head. Gabriella obeyed Troy and put on the blindfold. After a few minutes, the car stop.

"We're here!" Troy said cheerfully. Gabriella was about to pull her blindfold off but Troy stopped her.

"Don't take it out yet." He told her as she nodded.

Troy ran to the other side and opened the door for Gabriella.

"Thank you." Gabriella said, even though she couldn't see him. Troy took her hand and led her to the unknown place. Gabriella took a deep breath but it smelt different. It smelt like…. Sea water.

"Troy where are we?" Gabriella asked while Troy just smiled. He took off Gabriella's blindfold as she stared at what's in front of her.

"WOW!" Gabriella said as she continued to stare at the huge yacht in front of her. It was covered with lights and looked absolutely beautiful together with the breath taking horizon.

"You like it?" Troy smiled widely.

"Are you kidding me?! I LOVE it!" Gabriella exclaimed, throwing her arms around Troy.

"But what is it for?" Gabriella asked, completely forgetting about the very important occasion that day.

"Why don't we go inside?" Troy said with a smile. They entered the yacht, holding hands. It was dark and suddenly, there was a loud greeting followed by the lights.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABRIELLA!!!" Everyone shouted happily. Gabriella couldn't believe what she was seeing. All her friends were there including Mr Bolton with a really huge banner right in front of her.

"Oh my gosh!!! You guys remembered??" Gabriella asked, as tears of joy started flowing down her cheeks.

"Of course!" They all said in unison as they all did a group hug.

Everyone was enjoying their time when suddenly, Troy walked to the small stage.

"Hey guys!" Troy said over the microphone. A bunch of 'heys' and 'its that Troy' was heard. Gabriella on the other hand just sat at her table and watched her boyfriend with interest.

"I just want to say happy birthday Gabi and I love you so much. I'm really happy you're back!! This one's for you!" Troy said as the music started playing.

sometimes i wonder
how i'd ever make it thru
thru this world without having you
i just wouldn't have a clue


cuz sometimes it seems
that this world's closing in on me
and there's no way of breaking free
and then i see you reach for me

Troy looked straight Gabriella who was grinning and crying at the same time. He couldn't help but smile himself.


sometimes i wanna give up, wanna give in
i wanna quit the fight
and then i see you baby
and everything's alright
everything's alright

when i see you smile
i can face the world, o-ooh
you know i can do anything
when i see you smile
see a ray of light, o-ooh
see it shining right thru the rain
when i see you smile
baby, when i see you smile at me
oh yeah

Gabriella couldn't help but feel special whenever Troy was around. For them two, they were the only people in the room and no one else. The others on the other hand, was watching them curiously.

baby, there's nothing in this world
that could ever do
what the touch of your hand can do
it's like nothing that i ever knew
hey, and when the rain is falling
I don't feel it, cuz you're here with me now
and one look at you baby
is all i'll ever need
it's all i'll ever need

when i see you smile
i can face the world, o-ooh
you know i can do anything
when i see you smile
i see a ray of light o-ooh
i see it shining right thru the rain
when i see you smile, baby
baby, when i see you smile at me

some times i wanna give up, i wanna give in
i wanna quit the fight
then one look at you, baby
and everything's alright
hey, everything's alright
so right

Troy took the microphone out of the stand and started walking slowly out of the stage. His gaze never left Gabriella's. He continued to walk slowly until he finally reached Gabriella's table.


when i see you smile
i can face the world, o-ooh
you know i can do anything
yeah, when i see you smile
i see a ray of light o-ooh
i see it shining right thru the rain, yeah
when i see you smile
yeah, i can face the world, o-ooh
you know i can do anything
when i see you smile

Troy stood in front of her and sang the last part.


oh yeah, baby when i see you smile
smile at me

Gabriella stood up and wrapped her arms around Troy.

"Happy birthday Gabi!" Troy whispered in his ears. They pulled apart and leaned in. They were still in their own world that they didn't noticed everyone watching them.

"Awww.." The girls squealed making the pair pull apart, a little embarrassed.

"I'll show you something!" Troy whispered as he grabbed Gabriella hand and lead her upstairs.

They were in the open area in the roof top. The view was breath taking and Gabriella just couldn't help but stare.

"This is the best birthday I've ever had!" Gabriella exclaimed as she spread her arms and spun around.

"Is it because I'm here?!" Troy said cockily.

"Possibly." Gabriella replied with a smirk.

"How did you know its my birthday today?" Gabriella asked as they both leaned on the railing.

"What kinda of boyfriend would I be if I didn't know my girlfriend's birthday!" Troy chuckled, wrapping his jacket around Gabriella's since it was freezing up there.

"Thanks Troy." Gabriella suddenly said.

"For what?" Troy asked confusedly.

"For everything." She replied with a smile.

"By the way, I have a present for you." Troy said with a huge smile.

"Today was amazing enough. You didn't need to give me anything." Gabriella said with a warm smile.

"Come on. Everyone gave you a present. Why can't I?" Troy chuckled as he took a small box out of his pocket.

"Happy 16th Birthday Gabi!" Troy said as he opened the box, revealing the rose puzzle ring.

"Oh my gosh! It's the one I was going to buy!! I love it! Thank you sooo much Troy!!" Gabriella said happily as Troy slid the ring to her finger.

"What do you mean you were gonna buy it?" Troy asked confusedly.

"You bought it in Australia right?" Gabriella said.

"How do you know?" He asked in bewilderment.

"Cause you dropped something!" Gabriella said, taking Troy's lost wallet out of her purse.
"Wait! You were in the same shop??" He exclaimed.

"Yup! We just kinda miss each other!" Gabriella giggled.

"I knew I should've stayed there longer!" Troy said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"We still met didn't we? I love the ribbons by the way! Probably took you some time." Gabriella complimented.

"Trust me! Its all worth it!" Troy said as their lips met.

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Sorry for the long update! For those of you who were blaming Troy for not reading his email, he read it after all! Lol. I hope you like this chapter and thank you for all your reviews! By the way, 'Say Ok' music video is coming up this Friday so watch out for it!! The song that Troy sang was 'When I See You Smile' by Bad English. Please review.