Time for part 2! This chapter references the events of "Smart Enough To Know You Don't Have All The Answers" and features some familiar faces.

Carol and Taylor broke away from each other and were immediately swarmed by guests. They were mostly Taylor's guests, with a mix of Carol's college friends. So Carol mostly hung back while Taylor's friends and family congratulated them.

She didn't mind that she wasn't the center of attention. Her wedding had already been perfect and she felt so blessed- and so beautiful in her sparkly white dress.

"Carol," a stranger interrupted her thoughts, jolting her back to the present.

"Hi, thank you for coming," Carol said automatically. It took a moment before she recognized the woman in front of her.

"Oh! You're Gabriella! I've heard a lot about you."

"I've heard a lot about you, too. You look gorgeous in that dress."

Carol beamed. "Thank you!" Erin helped me pick it out. It's a bit much but I like it."

"It's not too much at all. It's your day, you should feel good about your dress."

Carol was about to respond when she felt a hand on her arm.

"Gabby. I didn't think you'd come."

Taylor sounded a little startled, and Carol finally remembered one of the most recent things she'd heard about Gabriella Montez.

Gabriella clearly remembered, too, looking remorseful.

"Tay, I'm so sorry for how I reacted on the phone. I was rude and ignorant and I've put in the effort to learn and rectify that."

"Apologize to my wife," Taylor said calmly, still gripping Carol's arm.

"That's okay, she doesn't have to," Carol said quickly.

Gabriella apologized anyway. "Carol, I'm sorry I didn't see at first what an incredible woman you are."

Carol blinked back tears, thinking about how nice it would be to hear her parents ay that. She pulled Gabriella into a hug.

"It's okay, a lot of people don't understand. I appreciate you taking the time to try."

"You deserve people who understand you," Gabriella said, hugging back.

"I have them." Carol glanced at Taylor and smiled.

"Hey!" Suddenly two more people joined their little group.

"Congratulations," Ryan said earnestly.

"We should all take a picture together," Chad said, "it'll be a mini high school reunion."

They all gathered around the archway Margot and Steve had put up and took a series of photos, some serious and some goofy. It was only after one of the silly ones that Carol noticed something the others hadn't spotted.

"Some congratulations are in order for you, too," She said, nodding at Chad.

Taylor looked over and spotted the gleaming silver ring on his left ring finger.

She lightly hit Chad. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"You were a little busy, Tay."

"I'm always busy! I still told you when I got engaged."

"Sorry… It happened in July, we took a little trip to the lake and Ryan surprised me."

"He totally saw it coming," Ryan laughed.

"That's adorable," Taylor gushed, with Carol and Gabriella echoing the sentiment.

"Not as adorable as you two. It's your day, Taylor, what do you want to do?"

Taylor pretended to think about it for a moment.

"I think… I want to eat cake."

Where's Troy? Don't worry- when I feel like writing Troy I will 😈

Also, I will write the Chyan proposal eventually, but probably not until the new year.