CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Troy! Are you even paying attention?!" Sharpay snapped also snapping her fingers in Troy's face.

"She's really beautiful when she's listening to Sharpay babbling on about who-knows-what," Troy thought, his gaze fixed on Gabriella.

"Troy, hunny, are you listening?" Gabriella asked, nudging her soon-to-be husband.

It was May 18th, the wedding was only about 3 months away. Gabriella asked Sharpay to come over to help with finances about the wedding. This, apparently, was of no interest to Troy, who was sitting back against the kitchen chair, staring intently at Gabriella.

"Is he always like this?" Sharpay questioned, pointing a perfectly manicured, pink, sparkly fingernail in Troy's direction.

"He must have slipped into his own little world," Gabriella explained, "I wonder what he's thinking about."

"She's so perfect," Troy pondered, "How did I get so lucky to have her?"

"Anyway, Gabi, how much have you put aside for the ceremony?" Sharpay asked, tearing her attention from the goofy smile plastered on Troy's face.

"Let's see..." Gabriella scribbled a number onto a piece of paper, "About this much."

Sharpay took the paper from across the table and looked at the inscribed sheet.

"I wonder why Sharpay's here. It can't be so they could take measurements, they did that a while back. Ummm... Wedding dress, finances... That's right, she's here to help us figure out money for the wedding. Maybe I should pay attention." Turning back to reality, Troy only caught the end of Sharpay's statement.

"...about 1000 more."

"We need 1000 more what?" Troy asked.

"Well, Troy," Gabriella said, placing her head into the crook of his neck, "If you weren't in your own little world, you would've known."

"I'm sorry, but I got lost in your beauty," he answered, placing a kiss on the top of her forehead.

"If you guys are finished making out," Sharpay injected, smiling at the happy pair, "we need to figure out how to make $1000."

"Ahhh... That's a steep amount. Too bad I'm not still on the b-ball team. I could easily make that much in one game."

"Well, if my single make anymore, it'll go straight to that, but most of it is used for advertising and to help pay off the house."

"Gabi, I know for sure that it'll climb the charts. It's such an amazing song," Troy said, putting more hope in Gabriella.

"Did you know that someone offered to remix 'Afraid'? Someone who goes by Dj Phredee. I've heard that he's amazing. I'm so excited 'bout it."

"So am I. And I'm sure the remix will be just as successful as the single."

As Troy and Gabriella conversed, Sharpay wondered how they could easily raise $1000.

"Well, Troy was on the basketball team. Maybe we could have a charity game. Also Gabi's single is getting pretty popular. It's #36 on the Top 100. Maybe a combination basketball game and talent show."

"I've got it!" she exclaimed, her blonde hair bouncing as she stood up.

"Got what?" Troy asked.

"An idea!"

"To help us raise the money?" Gabriella questioned, standing up also.

"Yup! A combination basketball scrimmage/talent show! I'll make an announcement at our performance tomorrow night!"

"A basketball scrimmage? Between who?" Troy asked, seeing that he didn't belong to the team anymore.

"The ol' Wildcat team! You guys could play against volunteers in a scrimmage game."

"And the talent show? Who's going to be in that?" Gabriella questioned, wondering where Sharpay was going with all this.

"You can leave that to me. But I know that Kelsi, me, Ryan and Raheal are going to be in it... And you and Troy!"

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I'm really sorry that it's so short, but the next one is going to be longer. Speaking of the next update, that might not be for a while. I'm going to take about three weeks to get my thoughts together. I also have finals coming up soon, so I'll be spending a lot of time studying. So, don't really expect updates for about three weeks.

With much love,
Kat