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Chapter 5: Best Idea Yet

March 17, 2008

A huge grin covered both their faces as Troy picked Gabi up and spun her around. She laughed, a real full laugh that she hadn't laughed since he'd left three and a half years ago. Putting her back on the ground he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Pulling back he asked, "How, what, why, when?"

Laughing again she responded "You forgot who and where."

He playfully glared down at her, surprising his friends who had never seen him so animated before, "Good to see the sense of humor is still intact."

"Oh like that could ever leave me." She smiled up at him. A smile that he gladly returned

"So who are you here with?"

"Senior cruise. Friends and family." Giving him a smirk she off-handedly replied, "Kyle's here."

His eyes lit up, like a child receiving an early Christmas present, "Where?" Laughing, Gabriella held out her hand. He accepted it, interlacing their fingers as if it were the most natural thing on the face of the earth, as she led him to her confused group of friends. His old friends.

"Guys." She got their attention, well actually she already had it. "Look what I found." They all looked. The girls gaped really.

"Hey there sweetheart." Alison let her 'sexy' southern drawl overcome her voice as she walked over to Troy.

Troy rolled his eyes, "No thanks I'm good." Troy smirked as her face fell as she watched him pull Gabi nice and close to him by her waist.

"Ya'll remember Troy Bolton right?' Gabi gave Alison a triumphant smirk.

Dude!" Kyle tore himself away from Addison to share a man-hug with Troy, which made Gabi, Haley, and Addison giggle. Once greetings were exchanged, some of them grudgingly, which surprised Gabi, they heard a cough behind them. Everyone turned to see seven teenagers looking on at the scene confused.

"Can we help you?" Ben asked, stepping forward slightly.

"Hoops, what's going on?" A kid with curly hair asked, though he thought he knew, he'd seen pictures of the girl with long ebony curls, Troy's one true love.

"Oh sorry guys." Troy quickly introduced his friends, the 'Wildcats': Chad Danforth, Sharpay and Ryan Evans, Kelsi Neilson, Jason Cross, Taylor McKessie, and Zeke Baylor. "Well, El Bell, we have lots of catching up to do." He kissed her temple again.

She smiled up at him and leaned into his sturdy frame, "That we do. Want to explore the ship while we talk? I know two parents that would kill to see you."

"Sounds like a plan, I'll catch up with you guys later. And I know two parents that would love to see you too." He waved goodbye as he led Gabriella off.

The two groups of looked at each other for a few minutes, brushing off the really wasted Dr. Hardy, as sight to see indeed. Kyle, Haley, Sharpay, and Chad suddenly burst into fits of laughter.

"What on earth is so funny darling?" Taylor's voice was slightly sarcastic.

"You know how Troy's refused to date anyone since he moved here?" Sharpay asked, waiting dramatically for the light bulb to turn on. When it didn't Chad picked up the train of thought.

"He always swore that he'd found the one and he just had to go back home to get her." No one said anything.

"That's Gabriella Montez." Sharpay groaned when the they all continued to stare at her and Chad.

"El Bell. Superstar?" Chad motioned with his hands for a moment before his friends 'ooohed'.

Haley, always the romantic squealed, "I knew they'd end up together." She turned to Kyle, "And you were saying what about her trip down Memory Lane not being a sign?"

Kyle lightly hit her on the arm, he turned to the Wildcats, "Ella's refused millions of dates, waiting for Troy to come back and sweep her off her feet."

"Well she was the one that found him." Zeke pointed out.

"But he sure did sweep her right off her feet." Kelsi sighed dreamily.

"Where is he going to college?" Haley linked arms with Sharpay as they began walking off, leaving Haley's friends behind.

"We're all going to UCLA." Sharpay answered.

"Figures, that's where Gabs is going." Haley smiled.

"How romantic," Sharpay gushed, "a cruise reunion."

"Women." Chad, Zeke, Ryan, and Kyle groaned.

"Do you have a problem with women?" Addison, who was lightly chatting with Kelsi and Taylor asked.

"Nope." Kyle smiled over at his newfound 'friend'.

"Good response." Taylor commented.

"Wait, what are we talking about? I thought we were talking about the game versus West?" Jason asked. As usual he was out of the loop.

Everyone groaned before Sharpay began squealing. She pointed to the glass elevator that the could see going down to the Promenade, Troy had Gabi pinned to the wall as the two shared a minor make-out session.

"Making up for lost time I see." Chad grinned wickedly.

"That's Captain for you!" Zeke shook his head.

"Never one to mince words." Everyone looked oddly at Ryan who just shrugged.

Haley and Kyle looked at each other, this cruise was their best idea yet.

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mollie XOXO