Author's Note: Hey guys! First things first, I know it's been awhile since I posted last, and I'm sorry about that. I decided to wait awhile before posting my next chapter and then I just got busy and it was hard to find time to write. But here it is, the last official "chapter" of this story (other than the epilogue). Hope you guys enjoy it! Couple quick shout outs: first, to EVERYBODY who liked this story, thank you so much for being patient and to the ones who stuck through all the way to the end, THANKS! To all the new people who review, you are so amazing! Thanks so much for doing it! Anyway enjoy chapter 15!

As we walked back into the room, Michelle and Michael walked up to us. Michelle laughed, "Took you long enough. What happened to you guys out there?"

"Ummm" I glanced at Nate.

He sighed. "We had a little run in with your brother."

"Stephen?" Her brow furrowed. I saw her glance at Nate's jaw, where a bruise was already forming. Her smile faded. "Oh, you guys I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine." I said, smiling at her. "And don't worry, it had nothing to do with you."

Michelle returned my smile hesitantly. "Alright if you're sure."

"Definitely." I smiled at her and Michael. "So, did you guys have fun while we were gone?"

Michael grinned at me as Michelle giggled. "Yeah, we did."

"Uh Ella?" Nate cut in, "I think we should go talk to your dad..."

"Why?" I looked over to see my dad staring down into his punch. His face was pale and it almost looked like he was going to be sick. "Oh... yeah, maybe we should. Be right back guys."

My dad looked up when we came over and smiled weakly. "Hey guys."

Nate grinned at him. "You doing okay over here? Ready for your big moment in the spotlight?"

"Yeah... totally ready." He ran a hand through his hair and shifted to loosen his tie. "Or, you know, feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack. Whatever."

I laughed, then leaned down to give him a hug. "It's going to be fine Dad. Nate, Michelle and I will be up there with you. And no matter what happens, everything's going to be fine, I promise."

He glanced at me, his eyes skeptical. "How do you know?"

I grabbed his hand and said seriously, "Because you and Gabriella were made for eachother."

He sat quietly for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. She's everything to me. I can't let her go."

"Then lets do this." Nate reached down and grabbed my other hand as he spoke. I felt my heart leap a little bit. With everything else going on I had forgotten my own stage fright for a moment. I shivered.

Nate whispered to me. "It's going to be fine. I've got your back up there."

I nodded and took a deep breath. There was no going back now.

"We'll make sure everything's set up with the music and everything. Why don't you go backstage and do some last minute prep?" I said to my dad, nodding toward the makeshift stage that had been set up just for the reunion.
"Actually," a voice behind me said, "we're all set up." I turned to see Kelsi and a teenage girl smiling at us. Kelsi continued, "This is my niece Valeria. She lives just down the street, so I recruited her to make sure that everything went perfect with our surprise performance tonight."

Valeria smiled at my dad. "This is so romantic what you're doing Mr. Bolton. If I were Miss Montez, I would melt."

My dad smiled, starting to look a little more at ease. "Well, lets hope that's her reaction. And thanks for running everything for us."

"My pleasure." Valeria nodded to the speakers at the side of the stage, "I better go ahead and put in the CD."

"I'll get Michelle." I started to move away, but realized Michelle was walking towards us with Michael a few steps behind.
She smiled. "Are we ready?"

"Almost." I took a deep breath. "Kelsi, I think you're on."

"Great. I know you guys are going to do awesome." Smiling, she climbed up the few steps to the stage and stood at the microphone. "Hello everybody! As most of you know, I'm Kelsi Nielsen."

I heard Ryan cheering and glanced at him. He was staring at Kelsi, grinning. I raised my eyebrows and was about to ask Nate if he knew if they had ever been a thing when I realized everybody was already walking to the stage. Nate took my hand again. "Are you ready?"

I bit my lip, then looked over at Gabriella and Alex. Then I looked into Nate's eyes and felt some of my nerves disappear. "Ready."

Kelsi continued. "We have a special performance from Troy Bolton and some of the current East High students. It is meant for someone who was, and is, very special to Troy, and now even to his daughter, Ella." I glanced at Gabriella and saw her stiffen. My stomach turned into a mass of butterflies. What if she hates the song? What if she hates my dad for singing it to her? What if this whole thing blows up in our faces? What if.. what if... I looked over at my dad. He looked more scared than I'd ever see him look in his life. My stomach dropped. Kelsi finished, "We hope you'll enjoy this song, written by Nate Reynolds, called I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You!"

As applause rang though the room, all of us climbed onstage. I glanced at all the people staring at us and started to feel lightheaded. I glanced at Gabriella. She was looking straight at me, and suddenly she smiled at me and nodded. Suddenly I felt brave again. I motioned to Valeria, and the music began to play. My dad started to sing, with his eyes locked on Gabriella, as if he were oblivious to the rest of the world.

You never know what you're gonna feel,

You never see it coming,

Suddenly it's real,

Michelle smiled at the audience, perfectly at ease, and began to sing.

Never even crossed my mind, no,

That I would ever end up here tonight.

I took a deep breath and smiled at Nate, who grinned back at me as we started to sing.

All things change,

When we don't expect them to,

No one knows,
What the future's gonna do,

I never noticed that you'd been there all along,

Nate slid over to me and kissed my hand as we all started to sing the chorus.

I can't take my eyes off of you,

I know you feel the same way too,

I can't take my eyes off of you,

All it took,
Was one look,
For a dream come true.

Michelle started to sing again.

Yeah we got a good thing going on.

I glanced at Gabriella and Alex and sang.

Right here is right where we belong.

My dad glanced at me then back to Gabriella.

You never really know what you might find,

Gabriella all I see is you and I,

You're everything I never knew,
That I'd be looking for,

I had to hold back a gasp. Her name in the song had not been planned. Michelle and Nate both looked a little confused. I wanted to look at Gabriella to see her reaction, but I was too afraid. We all sang the chorus again, then it was Nate's part again.

Can't take my eyes off of you,

Oh, oh, oh yeah,

So let the music play,

Can't take my eyes off of you,

Yeah the feeling's getting stronger,

And I never ever felt this way,

It was my part next, but suddenly I shook my head and nodded to my dad. He stared at me for a minute then jumped off the stage. He walked over to Gabriella, took her hand and kept singing.

Alright I see everything,

In your eyes...

Alright, something's happening,

Cause everyone's aroud but,

You're the only one I see.

Gabriella's face was streaked with tears, but her smile was glowing. I motioned to Nate and Michelle and we sang softly as my dad continued.

I can't take my eyes off of you,

Feelings like I never knew,

I can't take my eyes off of you,

From the start,

Got my heart,

Yeah you do,

I can't take my eyes off of you...

After the music ended, the room was totally silent. All eyes were fixed on my dad and Gabriella. My dad spoke, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Gabriella Montez, I love you. I've loved you since we were in highschool. I'm never going to stop. Nothing can part us, nothing can separate us, because we," he glanced back at me and smiled, then continued, "are made for eachother. We're soul mates. I know, after tonight you may be so embarrassed you'll never want to talk to me again, but I told you I wasn't going to let you go without a fight, and I meant it. I love you. Please, please, please, trust me. I'll do my best never to let you down."

I held my breath. Gabriella said nothing. My dad just waited, holding her hand patiently. I felt Nate pull me close to him, but my eyes refused to move from Gabriella. The next three seconds felt like years.

"Troy, how could I be embarrassed? I love you. And I believe you. I thought maybe time had changed us so much that it couldn't be simple anymore that it couldn't be..."

My dad pulled her up and into his arms. "Like kindergarten?"

She nodded, staring into his eyes as she ran her fingers along his cheek. "But that song was the most beautiful gift you ever could have given me. I'll never forget it... and... I want you to know, no matter what happens, no matter if we're in the same room, or just living on the same planet... I'm yours. Forever." My dad didn't wait to hear anymore. He kissed her, all the passion of wasted years going into that one kiss.

I felt tears filling my eyes as cheers erupted throughout the room. I whispered, "I don't believe it."

Nate leaned close to whisper to me. "Believe it. It's a real, live miracle."

I nodded, the tears beginning to spill out of my eyes and on to my cheeks. "After all this time! If it wasn't true nobody would believe it..."

Nate turned me around to face him and gently wiped my tears away with his thumb. "Hey, hey, hey, why the tears?"

I glanced at Gabriella and my dad, now surrounded by old friends, but with eyes only for eachother. "Happy tears."

Nate nodded then gently tilted my head up and captured my lips with his own. As we pulled apart he whispered to me, "And they lived happily ever after."

I looked over at Gabriella's happy face. My dad was grinning so wide it looked like his face was going to split open. Alex was hugging Gabriella and laughing. Sharpay was crying, and Zeke was standing at her side, holding her hand. Kelsi and Ryan were laughing and hugging in the middle of the room, and Michelle was jumping up and down while Michael clapped my dad on the shoulder. Uncle Chad was cheering louder than anybody else and Aunt Taylor was bawling her eyes out. I smiled, happier than I remembered being in a long time. "Happily, happily, happily ever after."

AN: Sooo what did you guys think? I hope it lived up to your expectations. Check out the epilogue for the final ending and the last couple of author's notes for this story! Thanks for reading!