bonjour!

i think I'm finally back in my writing groove, yay! expect the next updates to be up quicker than usual!

i feel like the quality of my writing is slipping again. I dunno, have you guys noticed anything? have the last few chapters seemed a bit, i dunno... bad?

anyways, we're taking a break from the smut AND the fluff in this chapter. its actually kinda sad. hope you enjoy.


-Chapter Twenty-Four-
Opening Night

"MAH!"

"MAH!"

Troy shook his head as we watched the Evans twins sit in Sharpay's dressing room doing that ridiculous warm-up of theirs. Ryan and Sharpay were incredible actors, that much was certain, but they certainly had an odd way of preparing for their performances. How it helped them was beyond Troy, and he could only watch in amused bewilderment as the two made random sounds.

"Eeeh!"

"Ooow!"

"Eeeeh!"

"Oooow!"

As Ryan mumbled something about 'energy', Troy snickered to himself and left the dressing room. After what seemed like hours, Ms. Darbus' 'inspirational speech' ended, and the cast was allowed to get changed into their costumes. As Troy made his way back to his changeroom, cast members rushed past him through the narrow corridors, frantically searching for missing props or stray costume pieces. Troy had to admit, all the hustle and bustle backstage certainly got his blood pumping. He could feel the anticipation growing inside of him as he thought of all the people coming to see them tonight. Months of hard work was put into this play, and it was all about to pay off. Feeling his heart racing in his chest, Troy took a few deep breaths and a calming walk around the stage. He couldn't get caught up in the moment. He had to keep a cool head to make sure he didn't flub his performance. He needed something relaxing to do to keep his nerves down. It came to him and, after making sure no one was watching, Troy closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Eeeeeh…"

-o-O-O-O-o-

Gabriella stepped out onto the empty, curtained stage. She was already dressed in her costume. After all, people in the chorus line didn't get fancy outfits, they were meant to blend into the background. Her feet brought her to centre stage, and she stood there staring at the velvet red curtain. So much had happened on this very stage. There were the auditions for her first school play with Troy. There were the callbacks, with Troy. And of course there was the play itself… with Troy. Her head turned to her right. Troy had stood there that day nearly a year ago, wearing his basketball jacket and the biggest smile on his face. She could remember the words that he sang through it, the words he sang to her. She could remember taking his hand singing back to him. She could remember Kelsi on the piano, stage right. She could remember the crowd on their feet, clapping along. She could remember the shocked looks on Ryan and Sharpay's faces. She could remember everything… and before she knew it, she was on her knees bawling her eyes out.

How could Troy do this to her? Had last year meant nothing to him? What happened to New Year's Eve? What happened to "What I've Been Looking For" and "Breaking Free"? What happened to acting like kindergarteners on the rooftop garden? What happened to Troy? The Troy she fell in love with did not do things like cheat on her for another boy. Suddenly, the voice of Taylor echoed in the recesses of her mind

"Gabriella, you had to notice that you and Troy were drifting apart," she could hear Taylor say, "Things were just getting too complicated for him."

What was that supposed to mean? Had Gabriella changed too? Maybe she had grown a bit clingy… but that's only because she loved Troy so much! She could not accept that this was her fault, it just couldn't be!

"Hey."

Gabriella gasped, standing and wheeling around. Her shocked gaze fell upon Troy's, as he stepped out of the darkness of backstage. Caught completely off guard, Gabriella forgot to be mean to Troy like she always was. "Hey…"

Troy walked closer to Gabriella until only a few feet separated them. He took a good minute or so before he said anything. "Ready for the show?"

Still regarding Troy through wide eyes, Gabriella nodded slowly. She probably looked terrible right now, and she was almost certain her mascara was running. Oh go ahead, make fun of me then… she thought ruefully.

But Troy didn't. He kept his face straight, a solemn look reflected in his eyes. He wasn't here to make fun of Gabriella, or make her already miserable life worse. He was here… just to talk. Realizing this, Gabriella swallowed and opened her mouth.

"Are you… nervous?" she asked. What else was she supposed to say?

"Oh, y'know, who doesn't get a little stage fright before opening night?" Troy said, trying to keep his voice sounding friendly. The last thing he needed was Gabriella upset before the show, although judging by the sad shape of her makeup, it was already too late. "You?"

"Well, it's not all that nerve-wracking when you're not in the spotlight… or any lights…" Gabriella tried to laugh, but it came out as an awkward sob. Troy smiled, but it wasn't like the ones she was used to. It was a pity smile. Wonderful.

Inwardly, Troy sighed deeply. He was trying to be nice to Gabriella, and she was just standing there like an idiot. Ever since he had seen her at the Scholastic Decathlon, Troy had been doing a lot of thinking. Okay, maybe Gabriella was a total bitch sometimes, and maybe she had a weird way of showing she cared, but she's only human. Since asking Ryan out, Gabriella had become this worthless outlet for Troy's anger and hatred, and seeing her that day, genuinely happy for the first time in ages, it was a big wake-up call. She was still just a girl, a girl who could feel happy, and feel sad. Troy actually felt guilty now, for being – as Gabriella pointed out – a thickheaded boy. At the very least, he owed Gabriella a proper explanation.

Gabriella was the one to open the can of worms. "Why, Troy?"

"I… I don't know, Gabriella," Troy admitted quietly, averting his gaze, "I was just…"

"A stupid boy?"

"Yeah…" Troy shifted on his feet and tried to meet Gabriella's eyes again. When he did, he could see the tears she was holding back.

"So, what was it, Troy?" Gabriella asked, walking closer to Troy. "I need to know what I did."

Troy took his hand and placed it gently on Gabriella's forearm. "I… don't know," Troy said for the second time. "I just didn't feel it anymore."

"But what about everything we did?" Gabriella asked. "What about the winter musical? What about our trips to the garden? What about acting like kindergarteners?"

"That was then," Troy said and Gabriella flinched, "And don't get me wrong, those were good times but…"

"But?" Gabriella croaked.

"It… it wasn't you anymore…"

It came down like an anvil on Gabriella's heart. Her lungs collapsed and the floodgates opened. Through the ocean of tears swimming around her eyes, she saw Troy's face, looking concerned and almost hurt.

Please don't cry, Troy begged. In that moment, Troy wanted to hold Gabriella. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her it was going to be okay; to stroke her soft hair and kiss her worries away, just like he used to. But he couldn't do that. Gabriella slowly starting leaning toward Troy, and he stepped back. His body screamed in defiance, but he just could not do it. Painfully, he walked back away from Gabriella as she fell to her knees again. Letting her go was a million times harder than he thought, and if this was only a fraction of what Gabriella was feeling, then she must have been seriously hurting. Troy could remember that sob story Taylor had relayed to him that one day. He finally realized it wasn't made up… Gabriella actually meant it.

As Troy backed into the stage right curtains, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Troy gasped at the touch, but he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He let the hand slide down his side, and it wrapped around his waist along with its pair. Troy leaned into Ryan's embrace and breathed in deep. Now more than ever, he felt like the luckiest person alive. He had him, the one he truly loved, and Gabriella had no one. Ryan whispered into Troy's ear.

"She's tough… she'll survive."

It should have sounded cruel, but it didn't. Troy nodded and let Ryan kiss him on the cheek. Gabriella would survive. She wasn't a pushover, she was headstrong and independent. She would move on, eventually. And maybe one day, even find a love like Ryan.

Troy turned to face Ryan, and lost himself in Ryan's sky blue eyes. A lone tear streaked down his face as he brought his lips to Ryan's and kissed him tenderly. Those few minutes stretched into millennia. When Troy finally did break away, he held onto Ryan tightly and sobbed quietly over his shoulder as Ryan patted his pack.

"I love you, Ry."

"I love you too, Troy…"

-o-O-O-O-o-

Grasping Ryan's hand tightly, with that beautiful smile stretched across his face, Troy held up his arm and took his bow. Ryan followed after, and the rest of the line bowed as well. Opening night had been a success! It went without a single hitch. Well, almost. At the end of the first act, Gabriella broke the formation and ran off the stage. Troy hoped the audience wasn't able to hear her crying.

The applause from the crowd roared in Troy's ears. He stepped back, as Ryan took a second bow, joining in the ovation. Even as the cast waved out to the audience and left the stage, the clapping continued. As soon as the blackness of backstage engulfed them, Troy and Ryan latched onto each other and kissed each other. There was an annoyed grunt as someone pushed past them. Out of the corner of his eye, Troy caught a glimpse of Sharpay's golden hair. His smile broke the kiss, and Ryan pulled back.

"What?" he asked. Troy shook his head.

"Nothin'," he replied. He ignored Ryan's disbelieving look and took his hand. "You were brilliant tonight."

"Only because I have such a talented partner." Ryan smiled back. He tossed aside his hat, and Troy pulled off his jacket. Why waste time with dressing rooms?

"Your place or mine?" Troy asked.

Ryan smirked. "Mine."


i was kinda torn when i finished this chapter. part of me just wanted to end the story right now, as this chapter actually provides a lot of closure... but there is still a few things i wanna write before thist story comes to a close. what do you guys think? anyone reading against more chapters? do you think this is enough, or do you want more? I'm leaning toward writing the rest, but... i dunno, i'll let you guys decide.

to shad0wcatt4, i havent gotten a chance to sit down and read anything lately, but i did read like, a few sentences of your story. while i have Chyan listed as one of my least favourite couples, your story actually has me interested, and i promise to read it when i get the chance! thanks for reading.

and um... thats all for now i guess. so yeah, please review, as i could really use some feedback now. thanks all!

PS: How can you guys like 'Everyday' more than 'Breaking Free'???? its a nice song and all, but i totally prefer Breaking Free. maybe because Everyday just makes me feel jealous whenever i listen to it.. meh..

anyways, 'til next time!