AN: Shout out to Baby-M-xo who gave me a great idea. This chapter is dedicated to you!
Disclaimer – I don't own anything but the plot…sucks, I know!
Chapter 21 – He Did WHAT?
Before long, Gabriella was released and she had spoken to both the police and the councillor. She no longer needs to see her because she feels that Gabriella is completely happy, she just had a slight relapse.
Derek was found guilty for sexual assault and was put into Juvi and Gabriella had never heard anything about him since.
She hasn't spoken to Troy about Derek ever since that night and Troy had never told her about his fight.
Gabriella returned to school and everyone had heard about her 'accident'; however they were all sympathetic due to what had happened before then. When she ran into Jack Bolton, he gave her a hug, saying that if she ever wanted to talk, him and Lucille were there for her. She thanked him and said that she was absolutely fine. Jack laughed, 'The things Troy do when he gets angry is amazing.'
'Sorry? I don't understand...' Gabi said.
'You mean you don't know about the fight Troy got into?' Jack asked, instantly regretting mentioning it.
'He did WHAT?' Gabi exclaimed left without another word to find Troy and confront him about it. She found him at his locker talking and laughing with Chad and Zeke. 'Hey, Brie!' Troy said and leaned in to kiss her.
Gabriella pulled back and shouted, 'You got into a fight! Who with? Since when did I say it is ok to get into fights with people, Troy?'
Troy looked at her shocked. He took hold of her by the arm and led her away from everyone to talk to her in private on the balcony. He made her sit down as he started to explain. 'The morning after you told me…I went to your locker to talk to you and apologize for storming out, but I found Derek standing there…I told him to stay away from you and he told me lies about you cheating on me with him and he was going to push you away but he thought you were hot and you were going to be rich so it would be good to use you and all that crap…I lost it Brie. He made me so angry the only thing I was able to do was attack him. He fought back and we carried on fighting until dad tried to pull us apart. I told dad and everyone else watching by accident that Derek had raped you…Dad tugged me away by my shirt and took Derek away…Taylor then told me about you, and I immediately left school to go to the hospital. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Brie. I just couldn't find a right time to tell you.' Troy looked down at the floor, slightly ashamed.
Gabi reached her arm up took hold of Troy's face with her hand. Troy closed his eyes at her touch. 'It's okay,' Gabi whispered softly to him, 'but you could have told me…it's flattering how you got in a fight for me…but it doesn't mean you should to it again,' Gabi added, smiling a little. 'So tell me, what has happened to make you so happy this morning? Everyone knows that you don't do mornings.'
'I received a letter this morning…' Troy grinned.
'Ah, what a coincidence! So did I,' Gabriella grinned back.
'I got,' Troy started.
'A scholarship…' Gabi continued.
'To UCLA!' They both finished and Gabi jumped up from her seat and hugged Troy. 'Are you sure you want to go there?' Gabi asked.
'Positive! I've wanted to go to that school since I was a little kid!' Troy enthused.
'Good!' Gabi replied and they hugged again in sheer delight.
'Welcome to East High's Graduation for the class of 2008!' Principal Matusi announced to the sea of students, staff and parents. 'May I present to you, our valedictorian, Gabriella Montez!'
Everyone erupted into applause as Gabriella walked up to the podium to start her speech. She winked at Troy who was seated near the front and started to speak, 'Parents, Teachers, fellow students,' Gabi addressed, 'Today is the end of one chapter of the lives of the students seated here, but is also the beginning of a whole new adventure. For some it is college, for others it may be a break from the education world we have been in and off to travel the world. But one thing we all have in common is that we are off creating our own lives, breaking free from home and exploring what is in the world.'
Gabi smiled at the students, 'One day, some of us will be getting married and raising a family or working our way up to the top of our career, or maybe even both! But we will all remember the memories that we have all collected at our time at East High. There may be sad memories, but there will be many more happy ones,' Gabi looked into Troy's eyes, letting him know that she meant every word.
'I wish every single one of you the best of luck, and I will leave you with a favorite quote of mine which a few of you may already know: Never stop dreaming, and reaching for the stars. It has kept me fighting through the hardest times, and will continue to do so. Thank you, and congratulations, we did it!' Gabi laughed and returned to her seat as the crowd applauded once again.
The principal returned to the podium, 'Thank you Gabriella, now we will hand out your diplomas.'
'We're Free!' Chad exclaimed as the gang all met up after graduation, still in their robes.
'College time, Baby!' Sharpay sang and Zeke hugged her, laughing. Zeke had also given Sharpay a promise ring at Prom, and Chad had also given Taylor his class ring on her birthday, with a promise that he will soon get her a promise ring of her own.
'Sorry I won't be around for most of the summer guys…' Gabi moaned. She was off to LA to meet up with Rich to start writing and producing some songs. They had agreed recently that they may release and album and records while she was at college, and she will do short tours. Gabi, although she would like to spend summer with her friends, was very excited to see everything beginning to happen for her, and no one could blame her for it.
'I'll be leaving for LA myself in a few weeks to go to that basketball pre-season training,' Troy added.
'What?! Training? Wow your team is gonna kick my team's butt,' Chad laughed. He was off to Duke, while Taylor was off to Princeton.
'I'm going to miss everyone so much!' Gabriella exclaimed and moved in to make a massive group hug.
They pulled apart and Chad said, 'But Gabs, you said you weren't going to two weeks…'
'No…I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon for a flight at 7pm. My mom is coming up by car in a few weeks with my stuff.' Gabi said sadly.
'What? You kept that detail quiet, Brie,' Troy said, shocked. He had no idea.
'It changed last week. I didn't know how to tell anyone. I'm so sorry.'
'Well, we have to make tonight very special!' Taylor smiled, looking at Troy to make sure he goes along with it no matter how upset he was.
'Yeah. A party to mark…' Chad started.
'The beginning,' Troy finished.
'The beginning?' Zeke pondered.
'The beginning of Gabriella's fantastic career. And ours of course,' Troy winked.
'Absolutely!' Taylor laughed.
'The beginning,' Gabi smiled, hugging Troy, silently thanking him for being understanding.
'I have never had so much fun in my life!' Gabi laughed as Troy walked her up to her door after their night out. The gang went out to their favorite diner and then they went to the park. They were playing together then it started raining, soaking everybody. They then continued playing and running around in the rain.
'Yeah, it was great…' Troy answered.
'What's wrong?' Gabi said, although she knew what he was going to say.
'I'm going to miss you when you are in LA…' Troy admitted.
'I'm going to miss you too, Troy. But look at it this way…by the time you arrive, I will know all the places to go!' Gabi smiled at him and Troy weakly returned it. 'I love you, Troy,' Gabi murmured.
'I love you too, always and forever.' Troy replied and pressed his lips against his.
'You know…my house is empty…' Gabi whispered into Troy's ear. Troy looked at her and grinned and led her into the house, neither of them wanting the night to end.
'Gabi, please don't go!' Taylor whined as they were all said goodbye to Gabriella before she went to board the plane.
'I have to, Tay…I'm going to miss you!' The two girls hugged, neither of them bothering to hold back their tears. 'I'll see you at Christmas.'
'Bye, Gabs,' Chad said and gave her a huge hug.
'Give Troy a tough game when you play him at College, okay? I want to watch a good game.' Gabi laughed and kissed Chad's cheek.
'Gabs!' Sharpay cried and they hugged tightly. Zeke followed Sharpay's pursuit.
'Zeke, when we meet again, I want to hear about all the amazing recipes that you have learnt at school! And teach Troy how to make them as well!'
'Hey, I can cook!' Troy complained, putting his hands around Gabi's shoulders. He led her away from the group to say goodbye to her in private. Gabriella looked up at him with tears in her eyes. 'Let's make this as easy as possible, okay?' Troy asked and Gabi nodded. She reached up and kissed him passionately.
'I'll see you in a few weeks, and I'll phone you when I have arrived in my room. At least we will see each other relatively soon.' Gabi said.
Troy nodded and wiped away her tears. He handed her a package. 'Open this when you take off.' Troy stated and Gabi also nodded. She put it carefully in her bag. She walked over to her mom and said goodbye to her.
She began to walk to the gate and was followed by her mom and the gang. She turned back and smiled. 'Bye guys. The songs I write will all be dedicated to you! As cheesy as that sounds!' Gabi smiled. She blew a kiss to Troy and disappeared onto the plane.
Gabi opened the gift as soon as the flight took off and saw a beautiful picture frame with pictures from over a year ago with Troy and Gabriella together and with the gang. There were also pictures from the holiday in Hawaii and even pictures from just the day before at Graduation and the times they had in the park. Troy must've been busy this morning, Gabriella thought as she looked at every individual picture. There was a note accompanying the frame saying, 'Something to decorate our dorm with! See you soon. Love, Troy xxx' Gabi smiled, and had a feeling that whatever was to follow in LA was going to be just what she dreamed for. All the pain that she had gone through in the past was worth the moments that were to follow.
AN: Two more chapters…and I am not going to give you any clue on what they are about…but they will jump forward in time.
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