Graduation:

Troy's POV:

Some say today is just the beginning, some think of today as the end. I guess I really don't know what to call today. So much has happened over the last 4 years, most importantly the last 2. In a month, I'll be leaving for college. It's seems like a long time but at the same to short. I can see the doors to East High come into view. This is the last time I'll be walking through those doors as a student.

Gabriella's POV:

As the valedictorian, I have some many mixed feelings about today, in some ways I'm happy. I'll be moving on to improved things. However, in others, I'm sad; I'm losing all that is familiar to me. There will be no more going around the block to the ice cream store where the owner knows all our names and our orders. When I walk into East High, it will be for the last time as a student. I don't know if I want to cry or smile, I guess I'll do both.

Chad's POV:

In a little under two hours, I will no longer be an East High Wildcat. It seems weird, I've been one for four years, I don't think I'll recognize myself if I wear another jersey. I'll admit I'm not that smartest in school but that place, it's like a second home it holds so many memories. However, I'm gonna walk out of there with the biggest smile on my face. I made it through high school, but only because of the friend, I've had around me. They've been the best…they're family.

Taylor's POV:

It's been an amazing ride, high school that I wouldn't get off for the world. But like all good things, it must come to an end. Therefore, when I get off the ride, standing on my own two feet, I'll be confidant that I can take anything head on. I was an only child up until 2 years ago, that's when nine people walked into my life and I wouldn't trade them for the world. Graduation is always the hardest part of high school, saying goodbye to friends, teacher. I can see East High now from my car, it looks so different but that's only because I'm leaving it.

Zeke's POV:

Everyone told me hold on to the years, high school flies by. I never thought that it would the truth. High school has come and gone. We're 18, graduating, moving out, going to college. It's pretty scary out there in the world. East High has been the best; it gave me so much, friends, love, memories. But I cannot wait to leave; I'm ready to take the world by storm.

Sharpay's POV:

I've always been known as the 'Ice Queen' and for the most part, I was okay with that. Then Gabriella Montez walked in to East High. She stole the Troy's heart, and turned the whole school upside down, and we all love her for it. She showed me what true friendship could be like. Now here I am, 18 and graduating East High. I love that place, it hold some of my best and worst moments inside. I kinda hope college is the same thing.

Jason's POV:

Wow, the end of high school. Never did see myself getting to walk across that stage. College is gonna be blast with parties all night long, studying, classes, no Mrs. Darbus. Yeah I could get use to that really quick. It just seems rather weird that high school is over. No more extensions when we're late cause we're on the basketball team, no more fountain outside where we all sit and talk, no more cutting classes cause we could. Now that I think about it, I'm really gonna miss East High.

Kelsi's POV:

The melody coming off the piano is somewhat soothing. It's helping me try not to cry and mess up my make up. I just want to freeze the moment, where everyone can stay where he or she is and never leave. Freeze everyone where there is no graduation, there is no goodbye. If I had a time machine, I would just keep rewinding time. I can't write another song for Troy and Gabi, because they won't be here to sing it, either with just our friends and me or to the whole school in a play. God I'm gonna miss everybody.

No One's POV:

Troy sat on the steps of East High, watching people pass him. Classmate, teammates, teachers, other students, and parents all smiled as they passed. Troy was waiting for everyone to get here; they were going to walk in together. Troy smiled when he saw the Evan's twins coming up. Soon followed by Zeke, Jason, and Taylor. Kelsi showed up a few minutes later, looking like she was ready to cry. The only one missing was the dark haired brunette who Troy was madly in love with. Troy's smile got wider when he saw her walking his way; she was wearing her gown like they were, with her valedictorian sash on.

Troy pulled her into his lap and said, "Love you."

"Love you too."

Chad stood up and said, "WHAT TEAM?"
"WILDCATS!"

"WHAT TEAM?"
"WILDCATS!"

"WHAT TEAM?"
"WILDCATS!"
Then everyone screamed "GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!"

Chad looked at his friends and said, "It's kinda sad to say that for the last time."

"Oh baby." Taylor said wrapping her arms around his neck

Gabriella looked at her friends, at the door, and back to her friends, "Come on guys, I think it's time to walk through those doors one more time." All the couples held hands, Sharpay snagging Ryan's hand too. "Are we ready?"

"I think so." Taylor said

Ryan said, "We'll never be ready, but we're gonna have too."

"I think I'm gonna cry." Sharpay said

Gabriella said, "Don't cry, cause if you do then I will."

They were all in front of the doors and Troy said, "Ready, set, go."

When they walked through Kelsi said, "That felt a lot different then the last 400 times I've walked through that door."

"I'm gonna miss this place." Gabriella said

Troy gazed down at her, "But we'll never forget it."

"This will always be our second home." Chad said

The principal came on the intercom. "Will all students please report to their assigned areas, graduation will start momentarily."

Gabriella said, "When, were done…let's meet on the rooftop okay?"

"Okay." They all said before walking off.

Gabriella took her spot in line, taking a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. Gabriella smiled when she heard the music to Vitamin C's 'Graduation/Friends Forever' start up. Gabriella looked around, watching all the kids' faces. They were mixed with excitement, anticipation, sadness, tears, smiles, and happiness. As everyone began to move, she saw Troy turn and throw her the thumbs up symbol waiting until she gave it back to turn around. Gabriella walked with her fellow students out to the beautiful courtyard.

The principle took his spot on stage. "Welcome parents and relatives. It's been a wonderful four years with this group. They are truly one of a kind. But I'll leave the speeches to our valedictorian." The principal took a deep breath and put on his glasses. Names where called then Gabriella heard. "Zeke Baylor." … "Troy Bolton." Gabriella cheered and clapped louder. Troy turned and pointed to her. "Jason Cross." … "Chad Dansforth." … "Ryan Evans." … "Sharpay Evans." … "Kelsi Neilson." … "Taylor McKessie." … "Gabriella Montez." and the rest of the names. Finally, as everyone was sitting back down. The principal said, "Now, I'd like to bring up someone every special. She is our valedictorian and probably has her own special place in everyone's heart. Please welcome your valedictorian Gabriella Montez."

Gabriella blushed at people cheering and clapping. "Thank you so much. Where to start, I've only been at East High for 2 years now, but those years have been amazing. Right behind me stands a building significant to all of us. It's where memories, both good and bad, have taken place. The building behind me is where we grow into ourselves, where we learned who we are, what we believe in, who we believe in. Its crazy how time flies and before you know it, you're being pushed out the nest and you need to learn to fly. Your mother or father isn't gonna be there, so you have to fly before you hit the ground. Today is the first day that we spread our wings, fly out of the nest, and make one of our own. Today is the first day of our independence and really, I couldn't be happier. We're starting a new chapter in our lives, another page in our life. I want you to always remember the important things about high school. Like how to not be afraid to step out of the stereotype or be true to yourself. This is our moment, our moment to take the world in our hands, so take it and fly with it. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I love you guys so much, congratulation, you're now high school graduates."

Troy stood and yelled, "That's my girl." Everyone stood and cheered as Gabi took her leave off the stage.

20 minutes later Gabi climbed the steps to their secret spot. "Looks like I'm the first one."

"Not really, you were wonderful you know."

Gabi turned to see Troy standing there. "Thank you."

They kissed until they heard. "Guys, please wait till you get home."

Troy broke the kiss and looked at Chad, "I couldn't resist, and she's just too beautiful."

Taylor, whose hand was in Chad's, smiled at Gabi, "Such the charmer isn't he?"

"I know."

Soon everyone was up on the roof. "It's over." Sharpay said

"I know." Gabi said looking around

"Best part is we'll never have to see Mrs. Darbus again." Jason said laughing; soon the whole group did too.

"Thank you Jason, you always know how to put a smile on everyone's face." Sharpay said

"We aren't going to get weepy." Gabi said

Kelsi looked at her and said, "We're not?"

"No." Gabi said with a smile, "Chad you are going to UCLA, you'll have basketball and Taylor close by at USC. Who, by the way congrats, is there on the scholarship. Sharpay you're going to New York to work on Broadway and take acting classes at NYU. You'll have Zeke in Pennsylvania at his Culinary Arts School, where he can become his master chef. Ryan you're headed the same way, straight to New York, just remember to invite the little people. Jason here got himself into Florida State. Kelsi, you're going to Juilliard, you don't even know how happy that makes me. Then there is Troy, my wonderful boyfriend who got himself a basketball scholarship to The University of Arizona. Which is why I am so happy because I will be seeing him everyday, because that's where I'm going." Gabi paused and looked around at her friends. "See we aren't losing each other, our friendship isn't gonna fall apart because we aren't here everyday or we don't see each other all the time. We all have a bond that can't be broken."

"You do have a way with words." Chad said smiling

"It's a gift."
"A damn good one." Troy said

Sharpay said, "Let's promise each other right now. We aren't going to lose touch; we will always stay in constant communication."

Taylor said, "We'll always meet back here in Albuquerque every holiday or anytime all of us are off."

"Deal." Chad said

"Deal." Everyone said after

There was some hugging and Gabi said, "Remember…friend forever, no matter what."

"Friends forever." They all said.

The group sat there and talked more about the future. When they were leaving to head where they were going. As Gabi watched her friends, she thought of something. They were all going in different directions, different colleges, different places in the USA, but the thing is, they weren't gonna change. All of them would be the same maybe a little older. However, Gabi knew deep in her heart that no matter where the road leaded them, they would always be the same.

Chad looked out at the darkening sky. "I'd love to stay but my parents want me home." He turned to his girlfriend. "You want me to take you home?"

"Sure." Taylor said as the couple hugged their friends and left.

10 minutes passed before Ryan got a call. "Hello." He talked then hung up. "We need to go Sharpay, mom and dad are actually home for once. They want a family dinner before we leave."

"I don't want to go."

"Come on." Ryan said pulling her up

"Fine, I guess." Sharpay said standing up, she kissed Zeke and said, "Come wait for me? I'll be done in 20 minutes."

"Sure." Soon those three left and soon after Jason and Kelsi

Gabi looked up at the moon and said, "It's just us now."

"Kinda peaceful."

"You wouldn't trade them for the world."

"No I wouldn't." Troy said, and then he noticed her shiver. "You cold?"

"A little."

"You should have told me sooner." Troy said slipping off his jacket he had.

"Thank you." Gabi said wrapping herself in the familiar scent.

"Just think, I a few weeks, we'll be out of here and gone. Arizona here we come."

"I can't wait." Gabi said as she watched headlights pull out of the school. "I found my mother in my room crying this morning. She was holding my baby picture and she just hugged me. She told me how proud she was, how her baby was 18 and graduating high school."

"My dad just gave me the 'remember basketball' speech. He seems to think that a certain brunette that I love and he looks at like a daughter, will keep me too busy."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Gabi leaned in and kissed him

After the kiss, Troy jumped up and held his hand out, "Come with me."

"Anywhere." Gabi said fitting her hands into his.

"Good." Troy pulled her up as the left the roof. "Your mom doesn't want you home does she?"

"No, she told me tonight was my night, I was no longer a child and I could stay out till whenever."

"Good because my parents said something along the same lines."

"I think our parents considered together."

"Maybe." Troy told her, opening the door to his truck. "Milady."

"Why thank you kind sir." Gabi giggled getting in. she sat in the middle, which was always her seat. "Are we taking this with us when we go to Arizona?"

"Yeah. My dad is gonna fill my stuff in his truck and your stuff will be in here and whatever's left will go with our mom's when they drive down together. Can't you wait; all three of them will be helping us move in."

"Wonderful, you did call and landlord?"

"Yeah, everything is ready to go. It will be ready by the time we move in."

"Good, I don't want our parents thinking we can't handle this. Knowing my mom she'll probably want me to move back home."

"We can't have that now can we? I mean this is our shot at complete freedom and privacy."

"Oh no more late nights sneaking up to my balcony."

"I though you liked it when I did that?"

"I do, but I don't have to worry about my mother walking in and seeing something she should be seeing."

"Yeah I could see where that would be bad."

"So where are you taking me?"

"I am taking you someplace very special."

"Is it a surprise?"

"Yes."

"Can I guess?"

"You can try."

"The Park."

"Damn, how in the hell did you guess it."

"I'm just smart like that. Plus it's the only other spot that's special to us other then the rooftop."

"Damn I should learn just to keep my mouth shut." Troy said as they pulled up to the park. "Wait here." he said then ran around the car and opened the door. "There you go."

"Thank you." When she climbed out of the car. "Catch me if you can." Gabi said before she took off.

Troy waited a second, giving her a small head start. Then he took five quick steps and caught up with her, taking her in his arms and swinging her around. Her laugh filtered through the air, music to his ears. The couple both had smile on their faces. For that moment in time, there was no graduation; there was no moving away from friends, there was just two lovers, best friends, soul mates, together, living in the moment. In an hour or two when they decided to leave the park, they would face reality. Nevertheless, for right now, they were content just being together in there own world.

TaDa!!! I hope you like it, sorry for not updating this. I was working on most of my other stories trying to get everything up. Hope you like this and please review, tell me what you think about it.

---SexyPunk54---