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Chapter 11: Pretty Damn Good

Ryan, Miley, Taylor, Kelsi, Gabriella, Sharpay, Amanda, Courtney, and a surprise visitor all stood up screaming. The score was close, 58-59. The UCLA Bruin Bears just needed one more basket to beat the Florida Gators. The stands were full on both sides and cameras were rolling back and forth between the game and the screaming spectators. It was the first game of the season, and after what had happened with Carl Griscom, everyone was ready to see how well the Bruin Bears could fair without him. And so far they were doing pretty well. The fight was tough, but it wasn't over.

They watched as Josh stole the ball from number 24 and drove it hard down the court, "Come on Bracken!!!!" Everyone was standing, just hoping he'd get it far enough.

"Number 23 Josh Bracken passed it to number 12, Chad Danforth" Chad ran hard and fast, dodging every orange and blue uniform he could.

"And it goes to number 2, Hunter Scantling."

"Come on Hunter!" Amanda began jumping up and down. He was cornered in with a little more than a minute left. He managed to get it Jordan, who had an open shot.

There was one minute left in the first game of the season and they just needed this basket to win.

"Come on baby!" Courtney screamed as Jordan shot the basket. They heard Florida fans screaming as it hit the rim.

Bruin Bear fans let loose wild screams as Troy caught the rebound, letting it glide off his fingertips in the perfect lay up it went through the basket.

Just as a Florida player caught the ball and began to move it towards their end of the court the buzzer sounded. UCLA fans flooded the court, ready to congratulate their team. It was the first game of the season and the score had been 61-59. A close call that they didn't want to repeat, but it didn't matter.

"Congratulations Bear!" Gabriella sang out the nickname that had stuck after the last scrimmage as she lunged at Troy.

Troy laughed and picked her up, spinning her in a circle. "Great shot dude!" Jordan came over with Courtney on his back to pat Troy's shoulder.

"Thanks man" Troy grinned as he placed Gabriella back on the ground.

"We rocked the first game of the season!" Chad came over with Taylor pinned to his side!

"Party time dudes!" Hunter sprinted over Phi Delta Theta's got a victory party all set up for us on the beach, Hunter refereed to the athletic fraternity that he was apart of.

"Well what are we waiting for let's go then." Josh tossed an arm over Gabriella's shoulder.

"First we've got a small surprise for you Josh." Gabriella moved away as a tiny dark-skinned girl came sprinting full force.

"You were amazing baby!" She said, lunging into his surprised arms.

"Jade?" He stood still, just taking in the sight of his girlfriend he hadn't seen in months.

"Surprise!" she squealed.

"Wait you're here! In California! Where are you staying? What?" He stuttered out.

"I'm staying with Gabs and Shar of course! And I couldn't miss the first game of the season! What kind of girlfriend would I be?" She asked in mock defense of herself.

"Uh, the kind that has school?" Josh scratched the back of his head.

Rolling her eyes, Jade commented, "Yeah cause Episcopal would really care if my reason for missing school was for visiting UCLA, Stanford, and seeing their star basketball player again."

"Well then, let's shower and hit this party up!" Josh grinned, tossing a sweaty arm over Jade's tiny shoulder.

An hour later everyone stood in the kitchen at the frat house laughing and sipping on beers. "It just doesn't get any better than this." Troy sighed as he kissed the top of Gabriella's head.

Giggling she had to agree with him on that. "Let's dance." Jade grabbed Josh's hand and led him out the what had deemed.

"That sounds like a good idea." Amanda and Courtney said together. Setting down their drinks they led Jordan and Hunter out into the living room.

"And then there were 10…" Ryan said in a dramatic voice.

"Ryan…" Everyone groaned.

He sighed, "I'm just not appreciated around here." He hung his head low.

"Dude, quit being a drama queen." Chad rolled his eyes as he took another sip of his beer.

"Don't listen to him." Miley glared at Chad, who immediately went to stand behind Taylor for protection.

"You do know I won't protect you from her right? I'm on her side." Chad looked at her with wide eyes, "You guys say bros before hoes so we say hoes before bros." The girls laughed and clinked their beers together.

"I feel like we're being ganged up on here." Troy frowned looking down at Gabriella.

"Who knows? Maybe you are." She giggled.

"So not that we don't immensely enjoying celebrating with you all here at this frat, would it be so wrong if Josh took Jade back to ours so we could leave?" Sharpay asked in a slightly whiny voice, indicating that if they didn't give in, she'd get worse.

"I'll go find them." Gabriella smiled, handing Troy her drink. Making her way onto the dance floor, she found Jade and Josh near the back corner. Pulling them out, "You guys can stay if you'll bring Jade to ours, we're gonna check out early. Sharpay's getting whiny." Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Sure that's cool." Josh said while Jade nodded her agreement.

"And you can stay with Troy and Chad if you wanna, I think Ry's staying at Zeke and Jason's tonight." Gabriella added before waving a goodnight to them and Jordan and Hunter.

"I think Josh might spend the night at yours tonight." She told Troy as he helped her slip into her sweater.

"No prob, let's get outta here before Sharpay has a conniption over there." Troy chuckled as he took Gabriella's hand and laced their fingers together.

As everyone snuggled together in the small living room of Gabriella and Sharpay's apartment they realized that this was perfect. Gabriella rolled her eyes as Chad walked around the apartment with the Cheetos he'd finally gotten in his ears claiming he was Frankenstein. He was weird, but in a way precious.

She suddenly realized that their decision to come out here wasn't rash. They had decided UCLA was a good place for them after careful consideration. And it wasn't stupid. In fact it was perfect. Sure they'd love to have involved parents who could've met Troy, Chad, Zeke, Jason, and Miley, but this was as good as they were gonna get. And it was pretty damn good.

That's it, I know it was a short story, but hey, I feel like it's done! Review!

Mollie XOXO