Against All Odds

Makes Me Wonder

Gabriella stood backstage, nervously wringing her hands together. She had just gotten out of the make-up room, and knew that the show would be starting in less than a half hour. She slowly pulled back the curtains and looked out to see that the auditorium was already filling up fast. Sure enough, she saw Taylor, Chad and the rest of the gang sitting in the front row. She let out a sharp breath and walked to the dressing room. She plopped herself down on the couch.

"Hey there pretty girl." She smiled as she heard a familiar voice from the doorway. She turned and made contact with her favorite pair of electric blue eyes.

"Hey yourself. You ready for this?"

"I guess." He said shrugging his shoulders.

Gabriella chuckled. "You're not even nervous are you?"

"Yeah, I am. I just know I'll be up there with you making me look good doing routines we've practiced a hundred times."

Gabriella knew he was right. They had practiced these routines a lot and she could probably do them in her sleep.

They saw Miss Darbus run by frantically, causing both of them break out in laughter.

"I have a gift for you." Troy said reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small black box. He handed it to Gabriella who looked up at him with surprised eyes.

"What is it?"

Troy laughed. "Just open it."

Gabriella looked at the black box again, and slid off it's top. Inside lay as simple silver charm bracelet. She pulled it out looking at the few charms attached to the bracelet.

"I probably could have bought a hundred more charms, but I wanted to make it so that you could fill it yourself. I got the book because you're my freaky math girl. The basketball to remind you of me. The box of crayons because being with you is like kindergarten. The music note because of the connection we both have through music that brought us together. And the heart, well, because my heart belongs to you." He said, nervously all in one quick breath.

"I love it Troy. I'm glad that I can add things to it as time goes by. Thank you so much." She leaned over to kiss him, lingering there for several moments before pulling away.

"Thank you." She said again.

"You are definitely welcome Brie." Troy said, standing up. "I'd better get going before Darbus has a heart attack 'cause she can't find me."

Gabriella smiled. "Good luck Troy."

"You too, Brie. You're going to do great." He smiled at her and with that he was gone again.

Gabriella looked down at the bracelet, securing it on her arm. She smiled. It was perfect. She looked back at the tiny basketball pendant. He was perfect.

"You know the world can see us, in a way that's different than who we are. "

Troy and Gabriella watched as the curtains fell in front of them, closing them off from the audience.

Gabriella breathed in heavily as she reached for Troy's hands to do the curtain call. The curtains slid open and the two of them stepped forward and took a bow. They both looked up to see the entire auditorium was on it's feet in applause.

Gabriella looked over at Troy, who met her gaze, and smiled. "We did it Troy."

He smile his infamous Troy Bolton smile before they both turned back to the audience. They both looked down to see Chad and Taylor standing at the edge of the stage. They walked over to them, and each were handed a bouquet of flowers. They both smiled thanks down at their friends before stepping back further on the stage. The entire cast came back out, including Sharpay and Ryan who were cast in supporting roles, and did a bow.

"Congratulations ladies and gentlemen!" Miss Darbus said from her place atop a chair. They were back in one of the dressing rooms and she was addressing the entire cast before everyone left for the after party. "You just gave a flawless performance!"

The room burst out into whoops and hollers as everyone celebrated the show. Miss Darbus stepped off of the chair and left the room, several people following as she did so.

Troy and Gabriella both stood up from the couch they were both sitting on. Troy reached for Gabriella's arm, turning her to face him.

"That was so much fun." He said with a wide grin on his face.

"It really was." She replied smiling back up at him.

They leaned in for a kiss, each not wanting to pull away from the other.

"I love you Gabriella." Troy said as they finally pulled apart. "So much."

"I love you too, Troy."

He smiled back at her as he reached her hand and led her outside to his car. They both got inside and Troy pulled out and headed for the after party.

Three days later, Gabriella was still full of smiles. The next two days of the show went as perfectly as the first night had been, and it had been one of the greatest experiences of Gabriella's life.

She strolled into East High Monday morning hand in hand with the guy she loved more than anything and Gabriella knew that nothing could bring her down.

She gave him a kiss before they parted ways and each made their way to their lockers.

Gabriella put in the combo for her locker and smiled as she was greeted with a picture of her and Troy on the wall of her locker door. She then looked in and saw a black box sitting on the ledge of the shelf inside the locker. She reached for it and slowly opened the note on top.

You were amazing this weekend. Thought you deserved these.
XOXOXO

Gabriella smiled at the printed words and looked down in the box to find two more charms: a microphone and an angel with her birthstone in it. She realized what the microphone was for, but the angel confused her. She figured she would ask Troy when she saw him before class.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Chad said dramatically as Troy and Gabriella entered their homeroom class. "The King and Queen of East High."

Chad rolled his hand and took a bow, causing people in the class to laugh. Gabriella and Troy also laughed as they took their seats.

"Very funny Chad." Troy said looking back at his friend. He then turned back to Gabriella at the back of the class and winked at her.

Miss Darbus then entered the room, causing everyone to silence and rush to their seats. Everyone sat still as she went on and on about the musical's success. Ten minutes later, the bell dismissing them from home room rang and the class rushed out the door.

Troy waited outside for Gabriella, quickly walking to meet up with her as she stepped out of the class. Their fingers laced together as they walked down the hallway.

"Oh!" Gabriella exclaimed looking over at him. "I almost forgot. Thank you for the new charms. I love them."

Troy looked at her with a confused look. "What charms?"

"These ones." Gabriella said holding up her wrist and pointing to the two newly added charms.

"But I didn't get you those ones." Troy said quietly, looking at the new additions to her bracelet.

"Troy don't be silly. They were in a box in my locker. You're the only person who knows the combination. I know it was you."

Troy stopped and looked at her seriously. "Brie. It wasn't me. I didn't put those in lour locker."

Gabriella's expression fell as she looked down at the two charms. "Then who did?"

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