I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while, I wasn't exactly sure how this chapter should've went. But that's not an excuse, so go ahead and hate me if you want to.

About this chapter, this is basically a filler chapter. Find out who Gabriella's Maid of Honor is and how Jared and Sharpay are connecting.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly upon Gabriella, Troy, and their newest addition to the family AJ. They were at the park right now sitting under a tree, enjoying the shade that it provided. Minutes earlier, Gabriella and Troy had been playing fetch with AJ with all a tree branch they had pulled off the tree they were now under, a Frisbee, and a chew toy, all at the same time. AJ was a little ball of energy, zipping back and forth, bringing back the stick or toy or whatever Troy or Gabriella happened to toss. Right now, AJ was whizzing around them, barking at them because he wanted to play some more.

"You know you've got too much energy, don't you," Gabriella said to AJ. After she said that, as if it had dawned on AJ that Troy and Gabriella were tired, AJ decided to lie down and yawned.

"Hot day out, isn't it today?" Troy asked Gabriella, pulling her closer by the shoulders.

"I'd agree," Gabriella gave Troy a peck on the cheek, "It's a wonder that AJ still has energy in this heat."

"Hey Gabi, what are we going to do with AJ?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, where is he going to stay while we go on our honeymoon? He's not coming with us, is he?"

"No he isn't coming with us," Gabriella stated, "But I don't know where he's going to stay. Any ideas?"

"How about with Taylor and Chad? I know for sure that Chad has always gotten along with dogs."

"Not a good idea. Taylor is allergic to dog fur. She loves puppies, but she can't have them," Gabriella put her finger to her lips, thinking fiercely.

"What about Sharpay? She had a puppy before, didn't she?" Troy asked, moving closer to Gabriella.

"Yeah, she did. But would she want to take care of our little baby?" Gabriella picked AJ off the floor. She held him close to her chest, cuddling him like a little baby. "He's very precious to me and I wouldn't want him to be poorly taken care of."

"I dunno. Aren't you meeting Sharpay and Taylor later to finish up the details of the wedding? Why don't you ask her then?"

"That's right. I'll ask her then if she wants to take care of the second most important thing in my life."

"What's the most important thing?" Troy asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"I think you know." Gabriella took one hand and traced circles on Troy's chest. "I'm gonna marry him in a few months. I'd say close to two months now."

AJ jumped out of Gabriella's arms, ran over to a stick that was lying on the ground, picked it up, and carried it away, chewing on it when he sat down under another tree. Troy and Gabriella had him for about a week or two now and AJ had become so close to them. He had become so close in fact, that now he could sense when Troy and Gabriella were getting all lovely-dovey and he just went away, giving them their privacy.

Gabriella and Troy noted this change in AJ's behavior and wondered how this dog became so in tune with them. How is it that he knew the right time to give them some time alone and when it was time for him to play?

"How does he always do that? Did you teach him to leave whenever you want him to?" Troy asked.

"No. I just think that he's just that smart."

Troy and Gabriella watched as AJ gnaw on the stick that was in his mouth. After a little while, he looked over and saw that Troy and Gabriella were just watching him. He got up, carrying the stick in his mouth and dropped it on Troy's lap, barking for him to throw it.

"Okay, okay." Troy got up, kissing Gabriella on the top of her head before picking up the stick and chucking it as far as he could throw it. AJ scurried off, chasing the stick. Sitting back down, Troy put his arm around Gabriella's shoulders, a habit that he had been doing for quite a while now, almost three years to be honest.

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Hand in hand, Troy and Gabriella walked to the cafe that Gabriella was going to meet Sharpay and Taylor at. AJ was walking quickly ahead them, being held back by the red leash that was bound around Troy's wrist. When they arrived, they spotted Taylor and Sharpay inside, drinks on their tables and a salad wrap in their hands.

"I guess I better let you go and hang with the girls. You probably don't want me around," Troy joked, holding the door open for Gabriella to enter.

"I wish that you could stay around, but you I want my wedding plans to be kept secret from the groom. You know the superstition about the groom seeing the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding."

"Yeah, I know that superstition."

AJ started barking at the Dalmatian down the street.

"I guess I better get AJ home before he gnaws through the leash and starts chasing the dog down the street." Troy gave Gabriella a quick kiss on the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too." Gabriella watched as Troy walked down the street and turned the corner toward their home. After they had left her for the day, Gabriella turned and sat down with Sharpay and Taylor.

"Hey Gabi!" Taylor said happily, "How are things with AJ? He being a good puppy for you?"

"Yeah, he's stopped interrupting me and Troy now. I don't know where he learned to do that, but he's one smart pup. Speaking of that, Sharpay, would you mind pet-sitting him while Troy and I are on our honeymoon?"

"Can't you find anyone else?" Sharpay asked, but more in a concerned tone than a why-do-I-have-to-do-it tone.

"No, Tay is allergic to dog fur and I'm pretty sure that Trevor and Christine are gonna head back to New Mexico after the wedding. Can you do it?"

"Sure. I'll do it. I'll treat him like he was my own child."

"Speaking of relationships, how are things with you and Jared? Things still going strong after two weeks?"

"You know what? I actually think that Jared's the one. I don't think that I've never really felt this way about a guy before. I mean, I feel like I can tell him anything even though I've only known him for a couple weeks. I feel like he doesn't judge me, but he just wants to be around me just to be with me."

"Awww...Sharpay, that's so touching," Taylor exclaimed.

"Looks like everyone found their Prince Charming after all," Gabriella stated.

"Looks like we all did," Sharpay replied. "Gabriella, I finally finished your dress. I just need you to try it on so I can make some finishing touches. But before that, do you have everything planned for the big day?"

"Pretty much. Can you give Kelsi the compositions that I want for her to play? And tell her to throw in one of her own creations?"

"Oh sure. Looks like everything is falling into place."

Gabriella remembered one last detail that she had forgotten to take care of. "Hey Tay, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure. What is it?"

"There's just one detail that I haven't taken care of. Would you like to be my Maid of Honor? Chad's gonna be Troy's Best Man and it only seems fitting that my best friend be my Maid of Honor. You stuck by me since the first day that I moved to East High and you always stood by my decisions."

Taylor looked at her best friend. It was all true, except for the sticking by her side thing. There was that one incident with the Twinkle Towne Musical, but it seemed like too loving a moment to bring that up. "Gabi, I would love to be your Maid of Honor!"

The three friends squealed loudly, causing the other customers to look at them questioningly. After Taylor and Sharpay were finished with their drinks and their wraps, the three left for the boutique that they had went to with Sharpay for the beginning measurements.

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After trying on the dress and letting Sharpay record some last minute alterations, Gabriella sat down with a notebook in her hands, listening to Taylor yell at Sharpay as she poked her with the needle. She was suddenly inspired to write a new song.

You're makin' me laugh about the silliest stuff
Say that I'm your diamond in the rough
When I'm mad at you
You pull out your velvet gloves
I feel drunk but I am sober
And I'm smiling all over
Every time I see that sparkle in your eye

--

They say that good things take time
But really great things happen in a blink of an eye
Thought the chances to meet somebody like you were a million to one
Can't believe it
You're one in a million

Reading over her work, Gabriella felt a tear come to her eye. It was true. She never thought that any guy could make her feel this way...that is until she met Troy Bolton. The one in a million. And in about two months, she was about to marry that one in a million.

"Gabi, what are you doing?" Taylor asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Working on a surprise," Gabriella replied, promptly closing the book as Sharpay made her way over. "That you'll all find out about on August 17."

"Is it something for Troy?" Taylor questioned, rubbing the sore spot on her hip where Sharpay had jabbed her several times.

"You could say that, but it's more something for anyone in love."

"Ohhhh...a love song. Come on Gabi, show us please," Sharpay pleaded, pulling at Gabriella's elbows.

"No, plus I'm still working on it. Right now it's nothing but a few rhyming words. I've still got a bunch of things to do before it's entirely ready," Gabriella answered, hiding the notebook out of their reach.

"Fine Gabriella, be secretive," Sharpay huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Okay, I will be." Sharpay pouted, her plan didn't work. "Hey, Shar, can you give me the hotel where Kelsi is staying at?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing, I just need to talk to her."

"Didn't you want me to give her the list of the compositions you wanted? Why don't I tell her what you want to tell her?"

"No, I'd rather tell her myself. While I'm at it, I might as well give her my list. So, all I need now is the hotel where she's staying at. Shar?"

"Okay, here it is." Sharpay scribbled the address down on a sheet of paper, handing it to Gabriella.

"Thanks Shar," she turned to Taylor, "Tay, can you give me a ride home? Troy and I walked to the park and then to the cafe, so I don't have a ride home."

Taylor nodded as her response.

Gabriella thanked her and turned back to Sharpay. "Thanks for everything that you're doing. I can't thank you enough."

"There's no need to thank me Gabi. It's thanks enough for you to have the perfect wedding."

Gabriella hugged Sharpay, who returned it warmly. "Thank you Sharpay. It means the world to me. Seeing where we now are after that first year at East High. You're like a sister to me," Taylor coughed lightly, "You too Tay. I don't think I would've survived my first year without you." Gabriella pulled Taylor into the hug.

Everything was falling into place. Now the only thing that was the problem was time. Two months till the wedding, two months till she was going to marry the man that she had truly loved. Two months till she was going to marry the one in a million.

I do not own the song. It is "One in a Million" but not by Miley Cyrus, it's the edit done by Sandy Molling, a german singer who was once part of the group No Angels. No, I do not live in Germany or in Europe. I live in the US, but I love music from other countries. Some of it is better than what we have in the US.

The next chapter is the chapter you are all waiting for! Yes, it's the wedding chapter! It's gonna take me a while to write because I plan on making it long, and I mean long. So, be patient for the next update.

With much love,
Kat