Lifting his bag over the side of the truck he let out a small huff of air and then wiped the sweat from his brow. He was more than sure he had everything he needed. Positive that this trip was a good idea, this was just a three week trip filled with college tours and driving aimlessly. Him, the road, his truck and…

"Good Morning." Gabriella chucked her bags into the back of the truck and climbed up to sit on the side of the truck. "Beautiful day for a road trip." She said leaning back a bit and flipping one of her pigtails behind her shoulder.

Yup, just him, the road, his truck and one little, annoying girl from next door.

"Oh my let me get a picture." Troy's mom smiled as she held up the camera. Troy faked a smile with a thumb up then quickly returned to his state of annoyance.

"My baby is going out all on her own." Gabriella's mom held a hand to her heart as she brought over a bag pack.

"Oh, Ella, Troy will be there the whole time." Lucile said with a grin. "I'm so excited for you guys."

"We're so thrilled." Troy said placing both his hands on the side of his truck and closing his eyes in deep regret for the seventh teeth time this morning.

"You father gave you the map right?" Lucile said placing a hand on Troy shoulder.

"Yup." He said with a smile. "Three maps, the GPS, and his visa card for emergencies." Troy said patting his pocket. "I hope he knows emergencies include pizza and waffles." Troy added on a side note.

"And you have the cell phone?"

"I've got mine." Gabriella held hers up and smiled for a picture as her mother aimed the camera.

"Our babies are going on a road trip!" Lucile said with a smile as she took a picture of the car one more time. "Don't pick up any hitchhikers."

"No drinking." Ella added

"No separating." Lucile held up a finger. "Look out for each other."

"We will." Troy said opening his door. "It's three weeks." He said with a shrug. "We'll be back before you know it."

Lucile walked up to Troy and placed her hands on his shoulders. "You've gotten so big." She said with a smile. "Your father and I are so proud of you for taking an interest in college."

Troy nodded in understanding. "Mom if you stall us any longer three weeks are going to pass in this driveway."

"A mother can try can't she." She chuckled letting him go then reaching to wipe a smug off his face.

"Mom!" He jerked back with wide eyes.

With a laugh Gabriella climbed out off the back of the truck and hopped to the ground. "Mom I'm going to miss you." She said with a sniffle.

"I'm going to miss you too mi nina." She said wrapping her arms around her. "It's going to be so lonely without you around."

Gabriella clung to her mother tighter and Troy rolled his eyes as he quickly gave his own mother a hug and then climbed into the truck. This was not what he had in mind when he suggested this trip to his father. Truth be told the whole college visiting thing was a joke, Troy was buying time and could do with some on his own experience.

Problem was when he suggest a road trip he didn't know that Gabriella had been so disappointed about not being able to visit the schools of her choice. In fact her mother hadn't been able to afford to send her on the campus visits with the school so Troy's father took the two problems and worked his manipulative magic. Now he was stuck in a truck for three weeks with his next store neighbor.

Sharpay wasn't thrilled about it at all when she learned he'd be away for three weeks. She got redder in the face when he mentioned Gabriella. In fact his left ear still had a bit of a ringing sensation in it from her window shattering projection of how much she hated this idea. They'd been dating for two years and now in their senior year of high school she was already picking out the matching his and her sinks that she demanded they have in their bathroom. Troy felt his inside cringing.

The way he saw it his life was right now at a fork in the road. He could take easy road and get a scholarship playing ball, join the pro's marry Sharpay and live in a pink Malibu house. Or he could apply for an out of state college and then with time and distance from his father pressure and Sharpay's orders he might find what he actually wanted to do with his life.

Gabriella Montez was to the say the least not in his normal circle of friends. In fact the only time he talked to her was when he was home. They didn't talk at school or acknowledge each other. Gabriella was a book worm. She was the perfect student, the perfect daughter, the perfect model citizen, everything about her screamed out insane. Ever since they were little something about her just didn't click with him. Sure he'd be forced to take her everywhere he went and he was forced to play a big brother role but it didn't make them closer. It made him resent her and her follow him around like a puppy from time to time.

Now he was dragging her along for this road trip. Forced by his parents once again, to from some short of social expectation of a friendship with her. It wasn't his fault she had no friends. Wasn't his fault she didn't have a father figure in her life or a big brother. Why did he have to be burdened with the fake annoying little sister from hell?

Gabriella jumped inside the front seat wiping the tears from her face and taking a deep breath. "Okay, I think I'm ready." She said.

"You sure." He responded holding up the car keys. He wouldn't be the least upset if she suddenly wanted to stay behind. "Three weeks." He said with a bored tone. "Might get a little homesick?"

"I'm fine I brought my entire music collection." She said holding up her iPod.

"Oh, damn." He said with a smirk. "Truck is an a track." He said pretending to look disappointed.

"Don't worry I brought an adapter." She said pulling it out from her purse.

"Oh joy." He said inserting the key and looking out the window at their mothers hugging each other waving their final good-byes.