A/N: Last Chapter!! Kind of sad, but what's a girl to do? Most likely another fic, and it will be as sad as this one, if not more emotional. A lot of twist's and turns and even more suspense. I like writing stuff like that; all this fluff is making me uncomfortable. lol. Now for Lucky Number Thirteen!!
LAST TIME-
"How can you be so sure?" she asked in a whisper.
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, a small smile crossing his lips as she closed her eyes and smiled as well.
"Because," he paused and waited until she opened her eyes again, just to make sure, "as long as you're fine, I'm fine."
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The afternoon sun shown in through her kitchen window, but Gabriella was too preoccupied to notice. Her eyes were shifted down to her bowl of Lucky Charms, her spoon swirling in the tie-dye colored milk. She lifted the spoon full of marshmallows to her mouth, having already eaten all of the wheat shapes beforehand. Her eyes shifted to the small TV that was flashing on her counter, the news channel streaming the weather report for the afternoon.
Echoing steps sounded from the hallway as her mother strode into the kitchen. Her eyes were raised when she found Gabriella at the kitchen table, a spoon full of marshmallows halfway to her parted mouth.
"You made cereal?" she questioned, a hint of sarcasm in her soft voice.
"You put the box of cereal next to the milk," Gabriella answered with a shrug, "I saw it on the food channel."
"And what would you be watching now?" her mother questioned, a slight smile on her face.
Gabriella glanced to the small TV before answering, "The news."
She watched as the smile dropped from her mothers face. The older women advanced forward, wrapping her arms protectively over her daughter's shoulders.
"You don't have to watch it," her voice was soft in Gabriella's ear.
"Yes, I do." Gabriella sighed out, "I have to make sure. I need to make sure."
The strong trumpets made Gabriella glance to the TV again. A woman in a black business suite was sitting behind the anchor desk. Both hands were wrapped around unseen papers. The face that controlled her nightmares appeared in a box to the left as the anchor addressed her viewers.
Chase Barker, the former head coach of the West High Knights basketball team, has been found guilty today on two accounts of kidnapping and attempted murder. His accomplices, Vash Thompson and Blake Thamn, who were former players, had been found guilty on the same accounts earlier this month. The three men will be serving a 99-year sentence, with no chance of parole
Gabriella felt her mothers grip loosen from her shoulders. That was what it had been like for the past three months. Her mother tense, no matter what she did to play it off and Gabriella calm, waiting patiently. She knew that they wouldn't get off with just a slap on the wrists. Still. Deep down, there was that fear that something would happen, something that would allow them to be off the hook. She smiled as she exhaled. It was going to be a good day.
She walked over to her kitchen sink, the empty cereal bowl in her hand.
"Now that I can live again," her mother broke through her thoughts, "What's your agenda for today?"
"Well," Gabriella paused as she placed her bowl in the sink and started the water, "I'm going to meet Troy at the end of his basketball practice, then we're going out to eat lunch with the others."
"Well, you have fun," her mother smiled out as she walked forward and placed a kiss on her daughters head, "I'm going out, so I might not be here when you get back."
"Out where?" Gabriella asked, eyebrows raised.
"You can have your fun," her mother smiled, "Let me have mine."
"Fair enough," Gabriella shrugged out as she exited her kitchen.
"Don't forget," her mother called out after her. Gabriella exhaled as she stopped at the foot of her stairs, her eyes finding the STAT full knee brace lying on the bottom step. She hated that thing. She groaned as she started to velcro the brace around her knee. The hideous blue and white brace began at her mid right thigh, running all the way down to the bottom of her calf. There were metal bars implanted in the fabric around the back and sides, making it impossible for her to bend her knee.
She yelled good-bye to her mother and made it out of her front door to her car. She smiled at the black Honda Civic. She slid into the drivers seat. Over the past couple of months, she had had to drive with her left foot, talk about awkward. The car roared to life as she backed out of her drive way. She glanced in the rearview mirror, the small scar by her right eyes catching her attention. The memory rushed back and she took a breath, that was a long time ago she told herself.
Within minutes, she was pulling into her parking spot at East High. She pulled herself out of her car and looked around. No one was ever at school on a Saturday, except the basketball boys. She smiled. She wanted to see him.
She made it rather slowly to the side gym doors and opened them. Shoes squeaking and a high-pitched whistle met her ears. She smiled as she entered the gym. All the boys were huddled around the water cooler, laughing and joking together. She hobbled over to them as she gave a smile and a wave to Mr. Bolton.
"You have good timing," Troy smiled out as he turned to face her, "we just finished."
"You're ready to go then?" She asked, then turned to Chad, "You too?"
"Yeah, I'm ready." Chad answered, giving her a hug, "How have you been? Still driving with your left foot I take it."
"Yeah," she smiled back as she glanced to Troy. He was looking intently at her knee brace, his eyes almost pained. She took a deep breath, he still felt responsible. She reached forward and grasped his and in hers, his eyes shooting up to meet her. "You ready for some food?"
"Yeah," he answered, the secret 'thank you' playing out in his eyes, "I'm starving."
"Good," Chad answered, throwing a arm around his shoulder, "Because those Glory Wings are calling my name."
"The Glory Wings are always calling your name," Jason laughed out, his gym bag slung over his shoulder. "I'm gonna go get Kelsi and then meet you guys there."
Gabriella turned and walked hand in hand with Troy out to the parking lot. Chad pulled out first, his black Scion tc leading the pack. Jason and his blood red Hyundai was next, followed by Gabriella and then troy. Jason branched off as the other three headed towards Glory Days.
Gabriella pulled in next to Troy in the crowded parking lot. She hauled herself out as she glanced around, Sharpay's pink Mustang catching her eye.
"They probably already have seats," Troy answered, his left hand finding hers. She glanced at him, her eyes falling on his right elbow. The scars from the surgery had faded a little, but they were still noticeable. He had, on occasion, gotten feeling back, but it normally lasted for a couple of hours and then completely went away again. Chad opened the door for them as they made there way into the restaurant.
"Hi," the blond receptionist smiled out as they approached her, "How many?"
"Actually, I think our friends are here," Chad answered.
"Oh, the Evans party is just this way, if you would like to follow me," she turned on her heals and made her way to the back of the restaurant. Gabriella turned a corner and was assaulted with blond hair, Sharpay's arms wrapping around her shoulders. Gabriella glanced through blond hair to see Ryan shaking hands with Chad, smiles on each boys face.
"How are you doing?" she asked, her eyes shining.
"Good, watched the news this morning. That helped a lot," Gabriella answered.
The restaurant was filled with cheering as an announcer boomed over the radio. One of the plasma screen TV's was showing a football game, the favored team scoring a touchdown. Gabriella hobbled to her seat, Troy sitting next to her, his hand still threaded through her fingers.
"Hi," Gabriella turned in her seat to see a male waiter standing over her shoulder, "Can I get your drink orders?"
Troy looked around the table, making eye contact with all of his friends, "I think we'll be fine with water."
"Just water?" the waiter asked.
"Yeah," Ryan answered, "That's fine."
The man nodded as Jason entered, Kelsi close behind. Gabriella stood and hugged Kelsi, her friend soft voice in her ear.
"You hanging in there?" she asked, sadness edged in her voice.
"I'm fine, Kelsi," she answered, nodding into her friends neck. The group found their seats as the waiter returned with their drinks. Orders were then placed, Chad, Ryan, Jason and Troy ordering a hundred glory Wings to start.
"I propose a toast," Sharpay interrupted during one of Chad's very funny jokes. The group fell silent, contemplating the statement. "To Memories," Sharpay said, lifting her glass of water. Her eyes shifted to Kelsi who was sitting next to her.
"O, guess it's my turn," the brunette smiled out, "To Long Lives," she said, raising her glass of water.
"To Good Health," Jason added, his eyes drifting to Gabriella and Troy.
Chad smiled, raising his glass, "To the Summer of Senior Year."
Taylor laughed as she raised her glass, leaning into Chad's shoulder, "To Lasting Love."
Ryan paused, glancing around the table. He raised his glass, "To Family."
"To Friends," Gabriella said, making everyone smile. She glanced to Troy, his glass the only one remaining on the table. His blue eyes found hers and she could have sworn time had stopped. He then leaned forward as his hand tightened around hers.
"To Us," he smiled out as the eight glasses found each other in the air.
A/N: Corny, I know, but still, I liked it. The next Story wont necessarily be a sequel, but, well, it kind of is in a way. There all going to be older, that much I'm certain of. Not like thirty-five but like freshman, sophomore in collage, that sort of thing. I'm still working on the kinks, but it should be out soon, and when I say soon, I mean in like a week.
But anyways, till next time, and if you want to review for the last time, it would be an honor.
BlackHowling OUT!