Of Diamond Rings and Three Letter Words - Part 4
Troy/Gabriella - Back To The Start
Everyone thought they'd be the first. They were the first to meet, first to date, first to fall in love and the first to move in with one another so being the first ones to the altar seemed like natural progression. From the day they'd met they had been intense and at ease with one another like they were the simply missing pieces of each other's puzzles. They didn't go through any of the typical, high school awkwardness and every time they fell down they picked themselves back up without hesitation. After time nobody really considered it anymore or bothered to question why it was. They were Troy and Gabriella. It was as simple as that. So six year later when everyone else around them was married or at least engaged, eyebrows were raised. Troy knew that they all believed he and Gabriella had eloped in their freshmen year but they could never confirm anything so they remained silent. Every time prying questions were asked about when they were finally going to tie to the knot Gabriella would shrug and reply insistently.
'Fate's been kind enough to us already. We met and fell in love …that's miracle enough. And then…we got to stay in the same state and make it through college even when it looked like we were going to be separated forever. I don't think we should toy with fate just yet. Who knows if it will be so kind to us after college?'
But it had. They'd both found jobs and one spectacular apartment in LA and the next thing he knew their lives were officially launched. Everything was perfect. His film career was taking off and all her colleagues were beginning to realize that Gabriella was a formidable lawyer. They had everything, lives, love and a tiny dog that Sharpay mockingly called a yuppie puppy.
But still, Gabriella didn't wear his ring.
He knew, beneath the crisp button ups and the designer blouses that she donned everyday that the chipped and worn T necklace hung fondly, pressed against her breastbone. But that was it. His only stake and claim on the girl he'd spent so many years of his life with. For so long neither of them had cared but…they'd been together eight years. Maybe they'd been ignoring all fates' signs. Maybe after this entire time fate was trying to keep them together. Maybe it as time to listen to it…
'Dude, what are you doing?'
Chad's voice was mocking as his head appeared at Troy's shoulder. Troy scrambled to slam his laptop shut but found its path stopped by Chad's hand, forcing it open.
Chad began to laugh amusedly as he surveyed the contents of the screen.
'Marriage proposals? Dude,'
'Shut up Chad,' Troy snapped defensively, 'It's none of your business,'
'Hey, hey!' Chad replied, still chuckling, holding up his hands in surrender, 'It's great man that you're thinking of proposing to Gabi. That's great news. I'm not making fun of you!'
Troy arched his eyebrows at his best friend in response. He closed his laptop, now free of Chad's grip and got up from his desk, 'Why did I invite you here again?'
Chad followed a stomping Troy through the apartment incessantly until they finally reached the kitchen.
'All I'm saying man,' Chad began, hoisting himself up onto the kitchen counter, 'Is that if you're going to propose to Gabi, looking up marriage proposals on YouTube is not the way to do it,'
Troy threw him a scathing look, 'You proposed to Taylor ten times before she said yes and suddenly you're the proposal expert?'
'I only proposed five times thank you,'
Troy groaned, burying his face in his hands and Chad hopped to be the helpful friend.
'This is Gabi man,' he tried, 'You've been together for…ever. Why the hell would she say no?'
When Troy remained silent Chad rolled his eyes, 'Look. Just ask her. You know she'll say yes. But looking on YouTube is definitely not the right way to start, there's some crazy stuff on there,'
Troy sighed heavily, raking his hands through his hair, 'I know,' he said, 'Trust me. I saw the one with the girl on the basketball court in front of everyone and she just…walked off,'
Chad smirked and let out a low whistle, 'That's tough huh?'
'Yeah. God, I don't think I could propose to Gabi quite so publicly,'
'Nah,' Chad shook his head, 'Besides, even if you could Gabi would hate all that attention,'
Troy nodded, his face downcast, 'I know. It's just…every time we meet someone now they all ask if she's my wife. And it just feels…amazing; the thought of being able to say that she is mine. It kills me to have to tell them no. Girlfriend just doesn't seem to fit anymore. Our relationship…everything…it just goes…'
'So much deeper,' Chad finished.
Troy looked up and met his best friends knowing eyes and bobbed in head in affirmation, 'Yeah,'
They lapsed into a silence, which Chad eventually broke by heaving a sigh.
'Look, man. You and Gabi…you belong together. And no matter how many well-laid plans you have, when it gets down to it, it's just you and her. All the soppy speeches, all the scented candles, all the schmaltzy stuff…it doesn't matter. Because the moment you get down on that knee it's just about you and her,'
Troy was silent, contemplating his friend's words and then chuckled, 'That was surprisingly insightful for a brainless basketball player,'
'Oh, because all the leotards and makeup make you so wise?' Chad jibed back.
Suddenly the sound of the front door opening caused both men to straighten up.
'Ok! I'm home, and I come bearing all kinds of Chinese food,' a light, giggly voice announced.
'See!' Chad said, elbowing his best friend in the ribs, lowering himself from the bench easily, 'This is why I need you to marry her. She's useful to have around!'
Long after Chad had ambled into their guest room and Gabi had curled herself around his body, fast asleep, Troy lay awake thinking about what Chad had told him. His fingers traced the bare planes of her arms, running intimately over the curve of her biceps. She murmured vaguely, shifting in her sleep, her lips pouted adorably.
'Just you and me…' he murmured, dropping a kiss onto the silky skin he'd just stroked, 'We could do this,'
Gabriella rolled over in his arms, burying her head into his chest and he sighed. Maybe Chad was right. Maybe whatever he did it just had to be about them and who they were. Nobody else mattered. He knew Gabriella would say yes. They'd been together too long, made too many changes and too many commitments to give up now, but…it was still a big thing. It was supposed to be special. A moment just for them.
Troy jerked upright suddenly and Gabriella groaned unconsciously at the lack of contact. He knew what he needed to do and he was going to have to pull a hell of a lot of strings to pull it off.
'Gabriella, Mrs Johnson says that the hospital is still refusing all her calls. She wanted to speak to you,'
'Tell Mrs Johnson I'll get back soon. I'm going for my lunch break and I'll be back by one. Then we'll talk to Mrs Johnson. If the hospital won't talk then they're facing serious charges here. But it's the holidays so we'll be lucky to get a response from anyone. Tell Mrs Johnson that I'll call her back,'
'That won't be necessary,'
Gabriella stopped her plight through the halls at the sound of her boss's voice. She spun around and frowned at the man who was leaning on his office door.
'Excuse me sir?'
'Calling Mrs Johnson back won't be necessary,' he repeated calmly, 'I'll transfer her case over to Leanne,'
Gabriella's brow scrunched and she stared at her, confusion lacing her eyes, 'I…I don't understand. Have I…'
'You've done nothing wrong Ms Montez. Except perhaps overworking yourself. Mrs Johnson will be very upset, but you have elsewhere to be today,'
'I…do?' Gabriella asked slowly.
'Yes, you do. It seems a certain young man would like you to be somewhere other than here,'
Troy. Her face transformed into a scowl instantly. Gabriella couldn't wait to get her hands on him. She was going to…
Her boss smiled, 'So that will be all Ms Montez. We'll see you next year. Have a great holiday,'
Gabriella hoisted a smile onto her face, 'Thank you sir,'
With that she turned on her heel and headed back to her office. Troy was in so much trouble when she saw him.
Grumpily, she stomped her way out to the lobby, her workbag slung over her shoulder. This was a big case. Major exposure, major recognition. This case may have been a make or break. And Troy was trying to be cute by going behind her back and requesting holidays. She was going to show him cute…
She slumped over to the front desk and began to sign her name out when she felt a presence behind her. She stiffened knowing without a shadow of a doubt that it was Troy. She spun around to face him, glowering.
'You are so dead,' she growled threateningly.
Troy held out his hands, grinning sheepishly back at her, 'Hey Ella,' he greeted innocently.
She narrowed her eyes at him, and his hesitant grin widened as he leant down to kiss her cheek.
'How was your day?' he asked bravely.
Gabriella continued to glare at him, as she turned away from the desk. He looped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
'It was fine,' Gabriella replied coolly, 'Until you started my impromptu holiday,'
'Gabi…' he stared, wincing.
'Troy,' she whined in response, stomping her foot childishly, 'It was my case. And now Leanne's getting it,'
'I'm sorry Gabi,' he said softly, pressing his lips to the top of her head, 'I didn't mean to…'
'I know,' she sighed, 'But I'm still annoyed,'
She looked up at him and offered him a furtive smile to let him know he wasn't in that much trouble, which caused him to beam broadly at her.
'Your chariot awaits,'
Troy stopped them in the parking lot in front of his SUV. He held open the door and helped her up into the car. He then hurried around to his side and started up the ignition.
Automatically, Gabriella leant forward and began fiddling with his Ipod on its dock until she found a playlist she was satisfied with. She fidgeted easily with the heater and then flopped back in the seat.
'Comfortable?' Troy quirked his eyebrows at her and Gabriella grinned adorably back at him.
'Perfect,'
It was an ease in their relationship that came from almost a decade of being together. They were completely barrier-less around one another, because there was no secret that the other didn't know. They'd seen each other in every state, in every way and nothing was worth hiding anymore.
Troy switched on the left indicator and turned onto the freeway, taking them in the opposite direction of their apartment. Gabriella, sharp as ever, looked up instantly with a frown.
'Troy what are you doing?'
Troy glanced over at her, his eyes dancing cheekily, 'Detour?'
She narrowed her eyes at him, 'How long of a detour?'
'Uh…a…sort of longish one?'
'How sort of longish?' she questioned, pursing her lips.
When her boyfriend was silent, she arched her eyebrows pretentiously, 'Troy, if you're talking 48 hours longish, then I'm going to need clothes,'
'Done,'
Gabriella frowned, taken aback by the unforseen development. She twisted her body around to look in the backseat of the SUV. She groaned when she saw her own overnight bag sitting neatly beside his.
'You packed…for me?'
Troy nodded proudly, and Gabriella buried her face in her hands. She feared what was in that bag.
'Where are we going Troy?' she demanded.
Troy's grin widened and suddenly she was reminded of a naughty child who'd broken his mother's favourite vase. Now she no longer feared the bag, she feared what he had planned.
'It's a surprise,' he said firmly, his eyes twinkling.
'Troy…' she whined, 'Come on, tell me,'
'I can't. It's a surprise,'
She huffed at him and folded her arms across her chest, jutting out her lower lip. It would work. The pout always worked. Troy would cave in seconds.
She waited impatiently, pushing her lower lip out further and further when she got no response.
'Troy!'
She looked up at him to find him staring back at her, his eyes light with amusement.
'Tell me where we're going!' she begged, 'Please?'
Troy pressed his lips together in a smile as if he was trying to contain laughter and shook his head impishly, 'You'll see when we get there,'
Gabriella groaned and crossed her arms across her chest. This was going to be a long drive.
'Ella. Ella? You have to wake up…'
He shook her gently, his hand clutching her upper arm. Her body jiggled in the car seat and she murmured but did not awake. Troy rolled his eyes; the girl could sleep through a tornado!
'Come on Gabi, we're here now. I just have to get you up to our room,'
Her eyelids began to lift and she blinked at him hazily.
'Troy?' she mumbled sleepily.
'It's okay Ell. We're here. I'm just gonna take you up to our room,' he said softly.
Gabriella nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hoisted her up so he supported her entire weight. Her high heel shoes, discarded some hours back, dangled from his fingers and her jacket was slung lackadaisically around her shoulders.
She buried her head into the crook of his neck, and he carried her into the lodge tenderly. He finally reached their floor, and with the help of a bellboy entered their room. Gently he deposited her onto their bed, pulling the blankets over her. Her doe eyes fluttered open again and through a sleep hazed confusion she stared up at him.
'Where are we?'
The corners of Troy's mouth tugged up into a smile. She was relentless.
'You'll see in the morning,' he said softly, 'Go back to sleep,'
She nodded blearily and allowed her eyes to droop shut again. He sighed and whispered his fingers along her side with a feather light touch. She relaxed into his touch and promptly fell asleep again. With a smile Troy kicked off his Vans and pulled himself up onto the bed next to her, curling an arm around her tiny waist. She shifted and pressed her body against his. She fit perfectly like on some higher level, one they'd never understand, they were truly made for one another. He snuggled into her and kissed her shoulder. This was how he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Fitting, perfectly with her, forever.
He couldn't wait for tomorrow.
'Good morning,'
Troy awoke to the amused, bright eyes of his girlfriend looking down on him. He groaned and raked a hand across his face.
'What time is it?'
Gabriella pulled his sweatshirt that she was wearing closer around her, studying him pensively, 'It's ten,' she said softly, 'But you looked kinda cute asleep, so I couldn't wake you up,'
Troy struggled into an upright position, rubbing his eyes blearily. Gabriella leant over and offered him a languid kiss, lifting her eyes up to him.
'Good morning,' she echoed.
He moaned his appreciation and tangled his hand in her hair, pulling her closer. Her lips landed on his neck, and her soft hair tickled his chin.
'I like being woken up by you,' he told her.
Gabriella's lips turned up into a smile against his skin and he sighed.
'So, do I get to know where we are now?'
'I think you should find that out for yourself,' he teased.
Gabriella stared at him challengingly, her eyebrows arched. Lithely she hopped off the bed, his sweatshirt riding up to reveal her clad only in panties, exposing the tanned and toned skin of her legs.
'I'm gonna go exploring, ok?' she announced, dancing lightly away from their bed.
She tossed Troy a playful look over her shoulder and he could see her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Troy turned around so he was on her side of the bed and encircled her slender wrist with his fingers. He tugged on her arm lightly and brought her stumbling back to him. She tumbled onto the bed and an infectious giggle lifted from her chest. He rolled over, taking her with him until he had her pinned beneath him.
'Mine,' he said, capturing her lips possessively.
She stared up at him innocently, 'Who says I'm yours Troy?'
'Me,' he replied, bracing his hands on either side of her shoulders, so he could study her bed.
'Oh I see,'
She began to giggle again and Troy swooped in on her neck, pressing kisses along the slender column.
Her laughter finally ceased and with her chest heaving she stared up at him.
'I love you Wildcat,' she said, her hand curling in his hair.
'I love you too,' he replied.
They fell silent and Troy stared reverently at her. He could ask her now. The words were there on the tip of his tongue, so right and perfect, everything that he needed to tell her.
But he wouldn't. Not just yet. This had to be perfect. For her.
He rolled his weight off her and she sat up again fixing her mussed hair.
'How about we go scavenge for some breakfast?' Troy questioned, fastening a pair of jeans over his hips.
'Are you going to be my brave and mighty hunter?' Gabriella teased with a smile.
'Well, those breakfast buffets can be pretty crazy!'
She giggled and jumped up searching the room for her clothes. She gravitated naturally toward the window and pulled aside the curtains, peering out curiously.
'There's snow,' she remarked, as she surveyed the endless blanket of white before her.
'That there is my little valedictorian,' Troy shot back, his lips curled in a smirk.
'Are…are we at a ski lodge Troy?' she questioned, turning away from the glass.
He pursed his lips and shrugged innocently, 'You'll have to see,'
She wrinkled her nose at him, and began to dress hurriedly.
'It's been so long since I've seen snow!' she giggled, scuffing her feet into a pair of Ugg boots, 'I love snow!'
That was definitely a downside of living in Los Angeles. The Minneapolis Christmases that Gabriella had grown up with were non-existent in a place where sunshine was 24/7 and he knew sometimes she missed it dearly.
'Come on!'
She latched her hand on his and dragged him from their room her enthusiasm bubbling infectiously. Troy allowed her to drag him along, feeling giddy and light from her presence alone.
She stopped once they reached the elevator, permitting Troy to lead once again.
Once they were out on the ground floor Gabriella's brow furrowed. She looked around the lobby, drinking everything in perceptively.
'I…I think I've been here before,' she murmured quietly.
She turned to him, thoughtful and pensive and then her eyes widened.
'We…you…' she stuttered.
Troy cocked his head to the side as her sharp brain pieced together everything she knew. Suddenly she beamed brightly at him.
'This is the lodge that we met at!' she said, her voice lilting excitedly, 'This is the place where we met! Oh Troy, this is amazing,'
Troy nodded proudly, wrapping his arms around her, 'It's been almost nine years,'
She leant up on tiptoes to kiss him, 'I…I can't thank you enough Troy. This is perfect,'
He smiled, 'I try,'
She pulled away from him then and grabbing hold of his hand, pulled him into the restaurant smiling widely. He couldn't wait until that night. Then she'd really have something to smile about.
The plan was officially in action. A jumbled pile of nerves coiled in the pit of his stomach and he found himself jittery and twitchy as the day drew closer to its end. He'd spent the day with Gabi, snow boarding and reminiscing fondly about their meeting. Gabriella had initiated an impromptu snowball fight and Troy was forced into a reluctant defeat after she recruited a group of nearby eight year olds. You don't mess with a girl who has a law degree. She giggled madly, swinging off him, clutching his neck tightly, revelling in each other's presence away from the busy life they led. Eventually, red cheeked and cold, they retired back to the lodge unable to play anymore.
'Gabi? Do you want to go for a walk?' Troy asked in what he hoped was a calm voice, cracking open the bathroom door slightly. He was an actor for Christ's sake. He just needed to deliver that line…casually.
The sound of running water ceased and he saw his girlfriend wipe the gathered condensation from the shower screen.
'A walk?' she questioned, 'Sure. Can I just…'
She trailed off, gesturing to the showerhead and he laughed, his anxiety subsiding, 'I prefer you naked but…you might get arrested for that,'
She poked her tongue out at him, and switched the shower on again. Over the sound of the pounding water Troy hollered, 'I'll go ahead of you. I really need…some fresh air. I'll meet you in the clearing?'
Gabriella called her confirmation back at him and Troy closed the door. Once it was secure he leant back against it, inhaling deeply. He could audition for roles, talk to fans and even do public service announcements without flinching but suddenly when it came to a ring and a girl he loved he was a total mess.
'Be cool,' Troy muttered to himself, clapping his hands together, 'Cool,'
He stepped away from the door and began to rummage through his duffel bag until he found his prize. The ring.
In his mind he'd always pictured the perfect ring from the day he gave her the T necklace. Perhaps not the particular details but how the perfect ring would look nestled on her left hand. So when it came to buying a physical manifestation of the dream it was incredibly difficult. It seemed nobody made the "perfect ring" for him.
And then he found it. One day, on location he had an afternoon off and found himself wandering around the local mall aimlessly. It was there he discovered a small boutique and with it the perfect ring. It called for him, begged him to buy it, sparkling up at him teasingly. It didn't matter that it had a ridiculous price tag he just needed to have it.
It had taken another three months after that, months of planning and organizing, before he could finally propose. Tonight.
Troy's stomach erupted with butterflies again and he clenched his fingers tightly around the velvet box. He could do this.
'Ok, I'm on my way!' Troy called, making his way over to the door, 'Remember, I'll be at the clearing!'
When Gabriella emerged from her shower five minutes later her boyfriend was well and truly gone. She whipped a towel off the rack and wrapped it tightly around her chest, her mind racing with thoughts.
Troy was acting weird. Really weird. She could only hope he was okay. He'd been acting odd since Chad came to stay with them in June and it had only escalated since then. She wondered if the pressure of all the jobs he was attempting to take on was getting to him or if he was still torn on whether he had made the right decision by pursuing acting full time over his basketball career.
Quickly donning a dress, tights and a coat, Gabriella made her way out of the room. He'd asked her to meet her in the clearing so they could go for a walk.
Truth be told, all Gabriella wanted to do in that moment was curl up with a book in front of the fireplace with a mug of cocoa. That sounded much more preferable than traipsing about in the sleet, getting her socks wet. But Troy sounded anxious and that meant he needed her support, so…if wet socks and red cheeks was what she had to do to support him then so be it.
She ambled along the path to the clearing absently, rubbing her gloved hands together, trying to create enough friction to keep herself warm.
'Troy? Troy where are you?' she called.
It was late afternoon and she knew that it would get dark fast and wandering around in the snow alone while it was pitch black was definitely up there with getting wet socks in Gabriella's book. It was not going to happen.
'I'm in here Ella,'
Troy's voice floated through the trees and she looked toward the direction it came from. She crunched through the snow, pulling her coat closer to her and pushed her way through the trees.
And then she stopped.
Her breath was stolen clean from her chest as she emerged on the other side of the trees. The clearing was empty except for a single, solitary, snow-covered tree in the very centre. That tree was wrapped from root to all it's branches tips in fairy lights, twinkling and sparkling brightly. The small buds swept their warm light everywhere, dusting the snow with a rich golden colour. Gabriella sighed dreamily. It was… beautiful.
'Hey Ella,'
A soft, velvety voice called out and Gabriella looked up. There, in the middle of that lit tree sat her boyfriend, perched comfortably on one of the strong branches. She giggled, approaching the tree.
'Hey Wildcat. What are you doing up there?'
'Oh,' he shrugged nonchalantly, 'You know, trees always were our thing,'
Gabriella raised an eyebrow at him, 'You mean your thing?'
He laughed, conceding to her, 'Ok, maybe my thing. But they were always my path to you,'
She smiled up at him, knowing he was envisaging the many of their adolescent hours he spent shimmying up the tree to her bedroom to reach her.
Troy stared back down amusedly, 'Come join me?'
Gabriella laughed, 'Up there? On the snow covered tree? In these clothes?'
Troy nodded eagerly and Gabriella found herself rendered helpless.
'Ok,' she said, 'But don't laugh,'
Gingerly she scrambled up the trunk, the soles of her Ugg boots sliding on the surface. She shrieked noisily until she connected with a solid branch. Troy sniggered amusedly and she looked up to shoot him a glare.
'I said no laughing!' she scolded, 'It's easier for you who's like…all leg,'
Troy fell silent a smile still painted on his lips as she hoisted herself onto the next branch.
'Next time Wildcat,' she panted, testing her weight on the branch, 'Can you tell me when we're climbing trees? I won't wear a dress next time,'
Troy nodded solemnly and extended a hand to her, helping her up onto the third and final branch. She wrapped her arms around the trunk tightly, almost passing out with relief to be stationary once again. Troy chuckled and leant over to kiss the top of her head.
'Hey Ella,' he said teasingly.
She looked up from her silent worship of the tree trunk to see Troy swung around, straddling the branch, his eyes dancing.
'What Troy?' she questioned.
'We're in a tree,'
'K-I-S-S-I-N-G?' she finished mockingly, causing him to smirk.
'I hope so,'
Reluctantly she released one of her hand's grip on the trunk and twisted her body to face him. She turned her head up, allowing him to kiss her soundly. He pulled away, and grabbed her free hand.
'You know we're both far too old to be in a tree,' Gabriella informed him.
'Never,' he murmured gently, 'It's about time you actually joined me in a tree,'
Gabriella offered him a warm smile and then retracted her hand to cling to the trunk once more.
'Ella,' he said softly, 'Let go,'
She felt his large hands move to splay out on her waist, holding her firmly in place, 'I got you. You're safe,'
Wincing Gabriella unwillingly released each hand until she was entirely at Troy's mercy. His strong, basketballer hands swung her around and she emitted a loud shriek, clamping her eyes shut.
'What are you doing?' she squeaked shrilly.
He laughed and continued to shift her until she was straddling the branch, facing him. His hands disappeared and Gabriella latched onto the branch below her desperately.
'Open your eyes Ella,'
Troy's voice came, silky and soft, interrupting her self-imposed darkness. She shook her head petulantly.
'Come on Ell. I promise, it's worth it,'
Unbidden, she cracked one eye open uneasily; still unsure whether it was something she actually wanted to do. Instead of snow and branches like she had expected to see, in her line of vision lay a bright, sparkling diamond ring.
Both eyes snapped open and she looked up at Troy urgently. Her boyfriend was beaming, both hands thrusting the ring in her direction.
'Troy…' she murmured.
'Hang on Ella,' he said, 'Before you start saying anything, just let me talk. You and I have been together for so long now that I barely know where you end and I begin. You're there and I love you. But it's so much more complex than that. You and me…it's…it's everything. It's trees and hammocks, and singing and the whole damn state of California. It's ski lodges and New Year's Eve and balmy summer's nights. It's the simple things with you that matter the most,'
She stared at him wide-eyed, one hand covering her mouth shyly.
'You always said that we shouldn't challenge fate but…isn't that what we've been doing from the very beginning? We weren't supposed to meet, but we did. And we weren't supposed to sing, but we did. We weren't supposed to go to the same school but we did. And we most definitely weren't supposed to fall in love,'
'But we did,' Gabriella finished.
Troy nodded, his eyes shining with anticipation, 'Ella, let's defy fate for the millionth time. Let's defy fate and be the happiest people alive. I love you and I know that I would not survive a day without you. I don't want to have to survive a day without you. So El, let's defy fate one more time. Marry me?'
Gabriella's lower lip trembled and her eyes glazed over with tears. It…he…
'Oh Troy,' she said, a soft sob escaping her lips, 'Of course yes,'
His grin widened proudly and he swept her into his arms, crushing her against his chest lovingly.
'Thankyou Ella,'
She wept into his chest, looping her arms around his neck as if he were the only thing anchoring her safely.
'Why are you thanking me?' she managed, choking through her tears, 'You were the one who…'
'Wants to have you in my arms for the rest of my life,' he concluded, 'But you were the one who just made me the proudest man on this planet,'
He then prompted for her hand, which she allowed. He stroked along her fingers, eventually sliding the ring to the spot where it had always belonged.
Gabriella sighed, her trembling ceasing. She curled into him, resting her head on his shoulder comfortably. She held her hand aloft, studying the diamond pensively.
'It's beautiful Troy,'
'So are you,'
Gabriella sent him an embarrassed smile, 'You are incredibly corny,'
'Corny?' Troy chuckled, 'You haven't seen anything yet,'
'But wait there's more?'
He grinned, 'You bet,'
He hoisted himself up off the branch he was sitting on and jumped lithely onto the one underneath. He then looked back up at her and held out his hand, 'You coming?'
She wrinkled her brow at him but nevertheless slid off the branch and into his awaiting arms.
'It's much easier getting down than it was up,' she remarked as she swung off the last branch and onto solid ground.
'It always is,'
When they were both standing firmly at the base of the tree, Gabriella turned to her boyfriend, beaming.
'What?' he chuckled at her sudden elation.
'We're engaged!' she giggled, 'We're engaged!'
She threw her arms around his neck, latching her legs onto his waist. Light, happy laughter echoed in the clearing and it was so infectious that it was all he could do but to join in. They stood there, below the fairy lights, holding onto one another tightly, happiness swelling within them both at the thought of their new lives together.
Finally Troy broke away, 'Ok…I have one more surprise for you,'
'Another one?' Gabriella questioned shyly, 'I think this one was more than enough,'
He laced his gloved fingers with hers, 'You deserve it all. Now come on, or we'll be late,'
'Late?'
'Ok, ok, close your eyes,' Troy instructed, his hands covering her eyes gently.
She writhed in his embrace, trying to get away from his hands petulantly, 'Why Troy?'
'Because it's a surprise,'
'Like the lodge? And the ring?'
'You love the ring,'
'Ok…I'll give you that,' she conceded, 'But surprises can still be enjoyed with full vision you know!'
The sound of keys scraping and doors opening filled the darkness and Gabriella strained to listen for more clues of her whereabouts.
He chuckled low in her ear, causing shivers to erupt up her spine, 'Ok Waterbug. You can open your eyes now,'
He removed his hands and pushed her forward lightly.
'Surprise!'
The cheer erupted as soon as her vision was restored and Gabriella froze. Six of their closest friends were gathered in the room, screaming and cheering.
Gabriella surveyed at them wide-eyed. There was Kelsi and Ryan, whom she hadn't seen since their wedding. There was Sharpay and Zeke who she scarcely saw and only emailed. And finally there was Chad and her best friend, Taylor staring expectantly at her.
They all watched her with bated breath and she suddenly knew what they were all waiting for. A shy grin spread over her lips and she held up her hand proudly.
The room erupted in more cheers and the girls squealed loudly, all converging on her. Gabriella revelled in the group hug, allowing them all to shriek and admire the sparkly ring on her finger.
After the girls released her she then was passed from boy to boy who each offered her a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Finally when she was free, she finally got a chance to survey the room around her. Her eyes swept over the musty couches and tables and a small stage in the centre of the room. Almost nine years ago she had stood in this very spot and it had changed her life forever.
She turned to see her boyfriend watching her carefully. She beckoned him over and them smiled.
'The Kids Club?'
'Young Adults,' he corrected.
'I think we're beyond Young Adults, don't you? And…don't people want this room tonight?'
'Not when I booked it out back in September,'
'Wow…' she breathed, 'You've been planning this,'
'Well,' he shrugged impishly, 'Getting an entire team of Wildcats, who are spread out across the country in one spot at one time is tougher than it looks. I signed a lot of autographs to get everyone time off,'
She laughed, 'You poor thing,'
Suddenly, he stepped away from her and backed onto the stage. He busied himself by plugging in the microphones and picked one up easily.
Reluctantly she followed him so they stood, centre stage, pressed tightly together.
'This is where we met Ella,' he whispered reverently, 'Do you remember?'
'Like it was yesterday,'
'We've come a full circle. And I think that deserves a song,'
He handed her the microphone and turned to their gathered friends, 'Karaoke anyone?'
Ok. There we go. Done! I think this is the very first mini-series I've ever finished! Thankyou for all of those who stuck with me for the whole thing, and as much love goes out to those who've jumped on the bandwagon, I love you all, you make my day!
