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'Today is her funeral, HER FUNERAL,' Troy internalized in his head as his parents drove up to the church where it was being held. Troy got out of the car and adjusted his black suit jacket so it was straighter and straightened his black tie. "Why am I even bothering? She's not going to see me," he wondered aloud.
"Because she will see you, from wherever she is," commented his mother with a small smile. "I know this is tough for you, Troy, but you'll get through today and every day from here on out just fine. Your dad and I, along with all your friends, we're here for you."
Troy placed a hand on his mother's that was resting on his. "I know that, and thank you, but it's just not the same as having Gabriella here with me."
The Bolton family walked into the church and sat down in a pew, one parent sitting on each side of Troy. He watched as family he had never met or met briefly came in as well as friends that he knew Gabriella cared for so dearly. Taylor was a few pews ahead with her parents while Audrina was seated next to Ryan and Martha. Troy felt a hand rest on his shoulder and looked up to see a concerned Chad in the pew behind him. "You okay, man?"
Troy nodded his head. "I think so, at least for the moment."
"I'm going to go sit with Taylor, but if you need me, I'll be here, man," comforted Chad before he went up ahead and took his seat next to his girlfriend, who instantly clung onto him while she cried.
Jason, Kelsi, and Zeke sat together in the pew across from Troy and tried to send him comforting looks, but they too knew that Troy had been in his own private world of misery since the accident.
Shortly after they sat down, the service started. Troy looked around the church, at all the faces of the people who Gabriella had touched in one way or another. He stared at the blown up pictures of Gabriella, one from when she was a child and a few of her more recently and felt himself tear up again at seeing her bright smile frozen in time. 'If I could only be lucky enough to have you back in my life, Gabriella, I would never let you go, at any cost,' thought Troy.
Ms. Montez had decided that she wanted to have a closed casket ceremony as Gabriella's face had been injured and wanted everyone to remember the Gabriella in the pictures, not in death.
The priest opened it up for people to share memories and Taylor was the first one up, with Chad standing behind her with his arm supporting her.
"Gabriella Montez, well, she was my best friend for the past year and a few months since her move to Albuquerque. She was a smart and gifted individual who never gave up seeing the good in people, even when she shouldn't have. Gabriella showed me it was okay to be who I was, to find love in a jock, and to believe more in myself. No matter what was going on in her life, Gabriella always made sure that I was doing all right and that I was happy, even in her darkest of times. She has gone through a lot in the past year, and instead of seeing the drama tear her down, Gabriella never ceased to amaze me with the strength that she showed through it all. I will never forget the weekend we went to Boston to go college hunting, or the time we spent just pigging out on ice-cream while we were both feeling especially low one night, finding comfort in each other. Gabriella, she was the best friend I could have ever asked for and I know that she will be missed by all of us, but I know I will never find another best friend like her."
Next, there were a few family members and family friends who had seen Gabriella grow up when she was a child. Troy felt his mother squeeze his hand and knew it was his time to go up there himself. After taking a deep breath, he nodded at his parents before he made his way to the front of the church and felt the eyes of everyone there. Troy cleared his throat before he started speaking into the microphone he just adjusted.
"As many of you know, I was driving that afternoon when Gabriella died in the accident. As some of you know, Gabriella Montez is the love of my life. What none of you really know though, is the true depth of the love and feelings Gabriella and I shared in the short time we had together after she moved here. We met by Destiny's hand at a ski lodge two New Year's Eves ago when a DJ prompted us to sing together. I sang the first verse and was about to abandon the whole karaoke business until I heard Gabriella start to sing. Her voice froze me and made me change my mind immediately about leaving, and that night was truly the start of something new for both of us. Destiny stepped in again when Ms. Montez was transferred to Albuquerque, which led to Gabriella being transferred to East High, the school that Gabriella's closest high school friends and I go to. We met, got reacquainted, and somehow, this sweet innocent girl, got me to break away from the status quo and become someone who I am today.
"It started with the Winter Musicale, starring in that with her, and continued on from there. Gabriella always pushed me to do better, to be a better person, not necessarily through demands, but seeing how much she expected from herself and her undying faith in me. I stand here with true regret though, for I didn't protect her the way I should have, the day of the accident or the days before. I didn't guard our love the way that I should have, and for that, I will always be sorry. But what one of my best friends said to me the other day while I was in the hospital is true. It's better to remember all those good memories with Gabriella than the bad.
"From high school dances to tutoring sessions to just hanging out, Gabriella brightened my day by just being there. Her constant smile and her thoughtfulness would cheer up anyone's day. Gabriella, well, she put everyone else before herself, even if they didn't deserve it. She always liked to see the best in people, but at the same time, was wise enough to know who not to trust. That was a lesson I didn't learn quick enough from her which hurt us in the end. But I'm here today to remind everyone what a wonderful young woman Gabriella Montez still is, as she lives on in our memories and our hearts. I for one still feel that Gabriella is still alive somewhere, if not here in on this planet with us. Wherever you are, Gabriella, I love you," concluded Troy before he walked off the stage.
Troy looked over to Ms. Montez and went over to her to give her a hug after seeing the sadness in her demeanor, one that was much greater and yet similar to what he felt. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Montez," whispered Troy.
Ms. Montez moved over so that he could sit with her on that first pew as they held each other's hand for support during the rest of the ceremony. He stayed with Ms. Montez as they followed the coffin out of the church and as it made its journey to the cemetery. Troy was by her side as the coffin that held Gabriella's body, but not her spirit, was lowered into the ground.
After the last bit of dirt was placed on Gabriella's grave, and after most of the people who attended left, Ms. Montez turned to Troy and gave him a watery smile. "Thank you for coming today and staying with me, Troy. I know you meant the world to Gabriella and you still do. You are absolutely right, Gabriella does still live on in our lives if we keep her alive."
"I am so sorry, Ms. Montez, for not protecting her better," said Troy as he wiped another tear from his face. "I should have watched out for her better."
"Troy, I don't blame you, if that's what you think. If anything, you made her last few months she spent on this Earth that much happier because you were there, loving her, only as a boyfriend could. You need to stop blaming yourself for the wrongs that happened. It's life, but you always, and I mean always, tried your best to correct them, which I know Gabriella appreciated more than she fretted over the past wrongs. Be happy, Troy, she'd want that," stated Ms. Montez before she hugged her daughter's boyfriend one last time and kissed him on the cheek.
Troy watched as Gabriella's mother left the cemetery, leaving him alone at Gabriella's grave. He stared hard at the tombstone and tried to come to terms that Gabriella was truly gone, but he still couldn't believe it, even through the tears and sadness and the void he felt. 'Something is telling me she's alive, but if she was, what am I doing here?'
"Troy, do you ever think about what happens after you die?" asked Gabriella as they sat together in their thinking spot at the park.
Troy looked over at Gabriella, a little startled by her question. "Well, not serious thought. Where did that come from?"
"Just a random thought. I mean, I would like to believe that we all go to heaven or somewhere like that where we can be reunited with our loved ones we already lost and wait for those that will come a long time after. I know I'd be waiting there for you if something should happen to me," murmured Gabriella as Troy pulled her closer to him.
"Why talk this way? We're both so young, Gabriella. Nothing is going to happen to us anytime soon. We have the rest of our lives ahead of ourselves. I mean, you did just come back from a successful trip to the East Coast for college tours and interviews. You must be thinking of your future," stated Troy.
Gabriella nodded. "I am, but I'm just saying, should something happen, I'll wait forever for you, but I'd want you to be happy. I love you too much for you to be sad the rest of your life."
Troy smiled down at her. "I would want the same for you too if the roles were reversed. But why are we talking this way? I'm not saying we're immortal but didn't we all agree to live for today? This conversation is not only depressing but violates that agreement, Miss Montez."
Gabriella giggled at this. "And what are you going to do about it?"
"This," he said before Troy leaned down and kissed Gabriella softly. "I love you, Gabriella Montez, right now and forever."
"Forever is a long time, Troy," commented Gabriella with a smile on her face.
"And that's my point, you'll always have my heart, no matter where we are," replied Troy.
"Well in that case, I love you too, Troy Bolton, right now and forever," returned Gabriella before she kissed him this time, which he happily returned.
Troy wiped away the tears he found on his cheeks as he remembered that single discussion they had only a month or so ago. 'How did I forget about that? Maybe that's why I feel this way. I know she's with me, wherever she may be.'
He started walking away from Gabriella's grave when he heard his name being called. Troy turned around and searched the cemetery for the source but continued to hear that familiar voice echoing in his head even though he didn't find the person calling him.
"Troy, please, come back to me," begged a familiar voice.