Chapter 16 – Gang Get-together

AN: Hey guys. Thank you so much for the fantastic reviews that I got for the last chapter. I'm really sorry to see this story finally coming to a close, but I am just happy hearing all of the wonderful things you say. Also, over 100 reviews? Thank you guys so much. You are really the greatest. First time a story of mine has reached over 100! I'm so proud of it!

On a side note, on Saturday (hopefully I release this before then, teehee!) I am going to be watching none other than ROBERT PATTINSON himself at Much Live in Toronto. I am so excited. I already have the special wristband you need to get in, and now all I have to do is show up. It's really intense.

Anyway, sorry that had no relevance to my story whatsoever, but I had to say it!

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Troy's P.O.V

SCREECH!

That was all I heard as Sharpay Evans walked through the Montez household. I could swear my ears would never hear properly again.

"GABRIELLA!" She yelled. I rolled my eyes. Behind Sharpay walked Zeke, following her like a lost puppy, then Taylor with Chad's arm linked in hers (whoever said they weren't meant to be, lied) and finally Ryan and Kelsi. In there hands were, of course, 'get well soon!' gifts. I was willing to be Chad's was some kind of food that he would end up devouring later.

"Hey Sharpay." Gabriella said. She was sitting on the couch, my arm wrapped securely around her shoulder, as one by one our gang greeted her. It was the first time any of them had seen Gabriella in over a month, seeing as the therapist insisted that visitors were reduced to a minimum of only family. I was an exception, seeing as I was practically part of the family already.

"Gabs, I've missed you so much. I didn't have you to talk about lunk-head basketball players, and it was horrible" Taylor playfully joked.

"Hey! We're not that bad!" Chad said as we knelt down and gave Gabriella a hug. "Hey Gabster, I brought cookies!" See. I was right.

Once everyone was settled in and, to Chad's happiness, the cookies were distributed and we all began talking together. Especially, about the doomed topic that was approaching in a week.

University.

"So you guys aren't coming until Christmas, right?" Taylor asked. She was also going to attend University of Albuquerque with me and Troy, and Chad of course. Sharpay and Zeke were both of to University of New Mexico, and Ryan and Kelsi were both heading off to Julliard.

"That's right. Troy and I are going to take online classes." Gabriella answered.

"Are you sure you're going to be able to handle that. Won't you get… distracted?" Zeke questioned. Troy looked at me, winked, then proceeded to respond to Zeke's question.

"Nope. Brie here has me on a strict schedule."

"Yup" Gabriella confirmed with a swift nod of the head.

"And how long have you been out of the hospital? You already managed to put up a study schedule. I smell overachiever." Gabriella pouted, turning towards me. No! Not the puppy-dog eyes. She knows I can't handle any of that.

"Troy… Chad was mean to me. He called me an overachiever."

"Well Brie, you kind of are." Gabriella raised her hand up to her mouth in mock hurt.

"Ouch."

"But it's okay babe, because you're my overachiever. And I wouldn't change you for the world." She smiled, and kissed me lightly on the lips.

"AWWW." Sharpay, Kelsi and Taylor said together.

"Yeah, Aww." Zeke, Ryan and Chad mocked. Then, all at once, the three girls smacked them on the head.

"And that's what you get when you cross Brie." I said laughing. Soon, everyone was laughing. The mood was bright, and we all settled down and began watching a movie.

"I still don't understand." I said. Gabriella shifted her body so instead of lying her back to my chest, she was not on top of me facing me.

"What don't you get?"

"I mean, they're in high school. Right?"

"Yup."

"Then why do they keep singing? Haven't they grown out of it yet?" I asked.

"Touché." I heard Chad mutter, followed by the 'thump' that came when Taylor hit him in the Afro with a pillow.

"Troy, we've watched this movie tons of times, and you still can't manage to understand it."

"Well you confuse me. And all of those comments like 'Troy can't you see how much you look like Zac Efron' are making it worse."

"You can't deny the truth." She said. I sighed, admitting defeat. Gabriella smiled and rested her head against my chest. I subconsciously began stroking her hair. Soon enough, I felt my eyes growing heavier and heavier, until I finally slipped into a peaceful slumber.

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"I don't think we should wake them."

"But I have so many ideas! It could be so much fun!"

"No Chad, it's not fair."

"I'M BACK! Oh, LET ME TAKE A PICTURE!" Picture? Someone was taking a picture? Oh no! Soon, I heard the click of a camera. Scared for what I might find, I slowly began looking through one eye-lid.

"Troy, I know you're awake. Just open both eyes." Chad always had to ruin the day didn't he? I opened both eyes fully, taking in the scene around me. The rest of the gang was all huddled around the couch that I was currently resting on. Why? I had yet to find out. As I shifted, I felt something lying against my upper torso. Sure enough, there was Gabriella, sleeping peacefully on my chest.

"You guys are just so cute! Zeke, why can't we be that cute?" Sharpay whined. I giggled, trying my hardest not to wake Gabriella up. Yet, soon enough, her eyes flickered open.

"Where are we?" She mumbled almost incoherently.

"Well, you and me are on your living room couch, while the rest of our so-called 'friends' are sitting around us, taking pictures." I just knew that only some of that processed in Gabriella's mind, as she was still on 'sleep-mode'.

"That's nice." She mumbled. Sure enough, as her brain cells started working faster, I could see her processing exactly what I said, because her eyes shot open.

"PICTURES!?!" I laughed.

"Yup. Sorry."

"But I look so ugly." I frowned.

"Brie, you never look ugly."

"It's true Gabster. You just always seem to look good, even it you just got up." I looked at Chad and playfully glared at him.

"Are you hitting on my girl Chad? Because I don't really appreciate that too much." The four girls looked at each other for a moment.

"Guys." The all said, before bursting into laugher. We sat around and talked for a while, before finally the gang had to go. Mrs. Montez was already home, and had gone straight to bed. Now it was just Gabriella and I in her bed.

"How's your knee?" I asked.

"Better. It still hurts a little, but I'm sure that I'll get even better over time. Why else would we be waiting to go back to university?"

"True."

"I had a great time today with the gang Troy. It felt really good seeing them all again. Thanks." I smiled, touched that these little gestures meant so much to her.

"Oh Brie it's nothing. Anything to get a smile on your face." She smiled brightly, blushing at the same time. "See, there's the smile that I know and love."

"Troy, you're such a charmer."

"And that's why you love me."

"It's true." She said. We stared each other down, before laughing hysterically.

"And Brie, you'll be seeing the gang to much this next week, you'll wish that didn't see them for a while."

"Though that probably may be true, it still feels really good seeing them again and talking to them."

"Anything for you Brie, anything for you." We lay there for a while, and I pondered on the many things that were to come in the next couple of weeks.

The separation of the gang as we finally go our separate ways for university, never to walk the familiar halls of East High together again.

The start of Gabriella's and my journey of online courses, all the while managing it along with the thousands of other things we had to do.

The start of getting back to normal.

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AN: Hey guys. If anyone has any idea which movie was referenced to in this chapter (even though it is pretty obvious) tell me and you'll get a cyber cookie! Also, please review and tell me what you think.

Only 3 more chapters and an epilogue left. Hopefully I can have this story fully completed in the next two weeks for all of you! You think I can do it? With motivation, hopefully!

Please review and tell me what you think!

Xoxo,

Lar