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Troy smiles at the surprise on Gabriella's face as she approaches his truck on Monday morning, at 7:15 AM, the usual time Taylor picks her up. "Good morning," she says through his driver's side window. "Sweet of you to stop by but Taylor usually picks me up."
"I know and she isn't coming today. She'll be back to her normal schedule tomorrow, but I couldn't resist driving my love to school today," Troy says, leaning through the open window and kissing Gabriella. "Come on and get in. We don't want to be late, do we?"
Gabriella laughs and gets into the truck from the passenger side, laughing at the look Troy has on his face. "Better cool it or everyone at school is going to know you're love struck again!" she exclaims, seeing the huge grin and sparkling blue eyes.
"Let them! I don't care who knows I'm whipped and am Gabriella Montez's guy. I am proud of it and you know they're all jealous anyway," he concludes. "We found our happily ever after finally and no one, and I mean no one, is going to take that away."
"Mmm, I wish that was true," she says, staring out the window but squeezing his right hand she is holding. "Life would be much simpler if we could get rid of all the interferences and drama."
"But, as you, a very intelligent young woman reminded me once, without difficulties, life would be BORING!" he recites to her, laughing as she realizes it was her who said that to him over the summer, after their first kiss on the golf course when he officially apologized for his behavior.
After sharing their first kiss and a few after that out on the golf course, getting soaking wet from the sprinklers, Gabriella and Troy had joined the rest of their friends in the lobby of Lava Springs with cups of hot chocolate they whipped up in the kitchen complete with marshmallows. They were all sitting around the fire, enjoying the warmth as they slowly started drying.
"That was crazy with the sprinklers but oh so much fun!" Martha exclaims, smiling at her friends who are all spread out on the couches and on the floor around the fire, a yellow towel around each of them.
"Shar, you didn't have anything to do with the sprinklers tonight did you?" Ryan asks, just wanting to make sure this was not her trick again.
Sharpay gives him a dirty look. "Ry, I'm insulted," she claims. "I'd never do something as devious as that!"
Before Ryan could respond Chad steps in and says, "Of course you would! But, since you were out there running around with us tonight, I can't put the blame on you, especially as you are just as soaked as the rest of us."
The gang laughs, each looking at each other and trying to enjoy the company while it lasts.
Feeling warmed up a bit more and the need to talk to Gabriella, Troy stands up and extends his hand down to her, which she takes. They hear catcalls from their friends as they disappear, Taylor's voice rising about the others to keep them quiet.
Troy leads Gabriella through the kitchen and into the practice room where they first sang at the club together. Gabriella takes a seat at the piano and starts playing "Chopsticks," which Troy quickly picks up on and joins in, both laughing when the other slipped. Eventually, they tire and end up looking at each other.
Staring into Gabriella's eyes, Troy brushes a wet strand of hair that's hanging in front of her right ear back and says, "Listen, Gabriella, I don't know how to say this but I'm sorry. I promised you a summer you would never forget, which I guess I delivered on, but not the way I had envisioned it. I let my future dictate the choices I made today and I didn't realize the hurt and pain I was causing everyone around me in the process of getting to that future," he says. "Listening to you as you walked out of my life that night, it woke me up more effectively than a splash of cold water to the face. Chad getting up in my face before you leaving though should have clued me in but, I don't know, I didn't pick up on it until I thought I lost everything. I apologized to Chad briefly earlier and now I want to apologize to you. You are one of the most important people in my life and I can't, and I don't, want to live it without you by my side."
"Troy, I admit, I didn't like the Troy Bolton this summer because he wasn't you. I think you got so focused on doing well and meeting the right people that you simply forgot that the people today in your life also shape what your life will be. When you started missing dates and also blowing off the guys, I had a hard decision to make and I made it based on the fear that who you were this summer would be who you would be come the start of senior year," Gabriella replies. "I came to you tonight in hopes that the real Troy Bolton was back, the guy that I adore."
"Well, here I am. Hopefully, life won't be such a difficult journey for us in the future," Troy says, wishing he and Gabriella would never have to go through so much turmoil again.
"You know Troy, I think life would be pretty boring without the drama. It would be predictable and knowing you, you would tire of it pretty fast. You know I have always been a believer in the idea that things happen for a reason. I think this summer happened to make us stronger and to also allow both you and I to find who we are. Besides, now we know, no matter what happens, we'll make it through, right?" Gabriella replies, hoping she would be right in her prediction.
Troy wraps his arms around her and brings her still wet head to lean on his shoulder as he hugs her. "No matter what, you can bet I'll always be trying to be by your side and be the best man I can be for you."
"Earth to Gabriella! Sweetie, we're here at school, where are you?" Troy teases, causing Gabriella to snap back to reality from her memory.
"Mmm, remembering the most romantic kiss ever," she replies with a smile.
"That better be our first kiss or Hunter is going to have some trouble flying up to Toronto," Troy jokes, causing Gabriella to laugh.
"Yes, it was our first kiss I am thinking of. I'm glad you can joke about Hunter now, I was afraid you were going to hate him forever," Gabriella replies.
Troy thinks for a second and responds saying, "I wish I could but I can't. He's one of your good or best friends now and he did go through quite a lot to make sure he put us on the best foot to try to start again. I can forgive him for the few weeks he stole from us being together as long as he doesn't do it again!"
Gabriella smiles as she takes his hand and gets out of the truck, grabbing her bag and walking in to East High, for the first time in a very long time, hand in hand with Troy. They make it to her locker and instead of dropping her off like he usually does in the morning after meeting her, Troy stays right by her side, watching as she pulls out her books and puts some in. Once done, they repeat the process but in reverse with Troy taking out his books and closing his locker. He leans his back on it and smiles over at Jason who is with Kelsi at her locker down at the other end and turns his attention back to his girlfriend who is leaning on the locker next to his at the moment.
"Going to miss me today?" he asks, knowing he is pushing his luck.
"Maybe. Depends, I meet another cute boy today in class," she teases back.
"Now that isn't funny," Troy says, putting his hand on the locker next to her head and leaning down to kiss Gabriella firmly on the lips. "And neither was that, but that I want you to remember it for the rest of the day."
Gabriella giggles as she gently pushes him away. "Very smooth Bolton, really," she kids with a smile.
"Back together I see? Gabriella, you really are too forgiving," Jasmine's voice calls out as she gets closer. "After what he did with Marlene and the kiss he and I shared, I would think you would keep such a guy at least two miles away from you at all times. Then again, bouncing between Troy and Hunter must have been fun for yourself. I bet you felt stupid when you read in the tabloids that he was gay. Heard he broke up with you by texting you."
Gabriella returns Jasmine's glare and speaks up before Troy could interfere. "For your information, I've known about Hunter for a while and unlike you Ms. Gossip Queen, I don't believe everything I read in the tabloids and I don't sleep around. Whatever Troy and Marlene did is in the past and I am willing to bet that even you don't know what happened between the two of them, you're just making assumptions. Well I have news for you. Jealousy gets you absolutely nowhere so you may as well find a cure and stop trying to ruin our lives," Gabriella rants.
"You think you are so high and mighty don't you Gabriella? You think you're untouchable because you can get any guy you want and you can get our captain here to come crawling back on his knees for you. What would happen if you learned you could fall?" Jasmine asks. "Maybe we'll learn that answer pretty soon."
Before Gabriella can say anything more, Jasmine walks off, today not being accompanied by anyone, leaving Gabriella staring. Gabriella actually jumps a little as Troy lays his hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were all right," he apologizes.
"I'm fine," Gabriella says, looking from the crowd of students now whispering and talking back to Troy. "I guess finding myself this summer really gave me a backbone."
Troy shakes his head. "Now if you keep fighting girls like Jasmine all the time, what's there going to be left for me to do?" he kids, earning a reluctant smile from her.
"Play basketball?" she answers.
"Come here silly," Troy says, pulling her towards him and kissing her, fully, in front of the whole hall of students. He pulls away and looks down at her. "I love this new Gabriella just as much as I loved the old one. You have the confidence of a woman who knows what she wants and yet the sweetness of a girl who has just fallen in love. It's quite a sexy mix."
Gabriella swats at his arm and laughs. "Flattery will get you everywhere Bolton. Walk me to class?" she asks.
"With pleasure," he answers, offering his arm, which she loops her hand through, while walking down the hall and leaving a wake of whispers from students, some of which had new respect for Gabriella and some who were happy to see the senior class' cutest couple were back together.
"Another fight I hear," Sharpay says, catching up with Gabriella and Taylor who are walking to the gang's lunch table. "You must be hanging out with me too much."
Gabriella laughs but Taylor jokes, "Is that what it is? No wonder she's starting to get blond streaks in her hair!"
"What, where?" Sharpay asks, only later realizing that Taylor is teasing her. "Ugh, smartie pants!"
The three laugh as they enter the cafeteria, noticing some of the students start to stare at the three of them. "Umm guys, are they all staring at me or did one of you do something notorious this morning that I don't know about?" Gabriella asks, fighting the urge to go back out of the cafeteria.
"Could be you after that fight with Jasmine or it could be you for making out publicly with Troy Bolton again. Take your pick!" Sharpay offers as she sits down next to Zeke.
"Lots of help Sharpay," Taylor mutters, sitting down next to Gabriella who had just taken a seat across from Sharpay. "Zeke, seriously, why do we have to put up with her?"
"Because I throw the best parties ever!" Sharpay says, ignoring the stab at her. She was getting used to taking them just as she dishes them out. "Speaking of, you are all invited to another Evans bash. My parents are conveniently leaving town and are leaving me and Ry by ourselves since we are now seniors."
"And you aren't taking advantage of it now any more than you did when you two were younger," Chad jokes as he and Troy arrive at the table and sit down next to their girlfriends.
"Hey," Troy greets Gabriella, kissing her cheek before diving into his lunch bag. "Rumors are flying about this morning, it's incredible."
"So I've heard," Gabriella responds none too enthusiastically. "I hate being the center of attention!"
Troy understands and wraps his left arm around her waist. "New Gabriella is more bold but doesn't like the attention. Kind of a quandary my dear," he says, earning a playful jab at the ribs from Gabriella's elbow.
"Anyways, back to me here," Sharpay interrupts. "Ry and I figured that the entire gang could spend the night as a sorta co-ed slumber party in our huge guest house out back. We'll have a boys room and a girls room for all things like changing and sleeping of course so no parents will be offended. Can I count all of you guys in?"
Nods are shared all around the table as everyone is present for Sharpay's last announcement, everyone saying they just had to ask their parents. "So it's just the gang for the party?" Jason asks.
"No, of course not! As much as I have come to like you all, I do have other friends, well sort of. I'm inviting our usual guest list. The after-party in the guest house is just for us though. I'd advise for everyone to show up ten to fifteen minutes early to dump your stuff in there because I'm going to lock it up just before the party starts. I have to have some control," Sharpay explains.
"Don't worry everyone, it'll be a lot of fun," Ryan reassures everyone. "Sharpay and I want to have at least one fantastic party this year and it wouldn't be if you weren't there."
"Want to go?" Troy asks Gabriella quietly. "We don't have to if you don't want to."
Gabriella looks back at Troy with a smile. "Of course we are going. Why wouldn't we?"
Troy shrugs his shoulders. "I just wanted to check with you. No assumptions will ever be made again on my end," he declares. "Besides, I think the cheerleaders like to go to the Evans bashes so you know who may be there."
"So what? Troy, I've got you back by my side and in my life now. Jasmine can either accept it or do what she needs to do but I'm not going to let her chase me from a party that my friends are throwing just because she may show up there. Remember, bolder Gabriella here," she responds, earning a chuckle from Troy.
"All right, all right. I was just checking, geez!" he defends, grinning when she leans over and kisses his cheek.
"I know, and that's why I love you so," she returns, smiling back at him.
"Go get a room!" Chad calls out with a grin, seeing the two back to their old practices.
"Maybe we will," Troy jokes, a fake serious tone in his voice as he gets up and grabs Gabriella's hand to pull her up but she surprises him as she jerks him back down to his seat. "Just kidding!"
Gabriella can't help but roll her eyes at this. "You never change Troy."
"And I never will as long as you are in my life," he promises, sharing in her smile before turning his attention back to his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.