A/N: Hey All! Okay, so here's the first chapter of Back Home to Stay, reposed. It's sort of the same as the first few chapters, only meshed together and with added info.
Before I keep going with this story, there are a few things that need to be sorted out.
First, should this story stay with its K+/T rating? In other words, should the story remain with its 'Disney' background, or should the characters be like typical teenagers? Let me know ASAP so I know which direction to go.
Also, if you all have any ideas, suggestions or anything please let me know. I need all the help and ideas I can get. Like; should some of the couples break up and/or switch around? [is there a particular pairing you wanna see?]
So, yeah...please, let me know, and I hope you enjoy the chapter :)
Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical, or any of its characters. I simply own Julie Bolton so far.
It was Friday night and Troy Bolton was up in his room. His parents were at a faculty function in the city for the night, giving Troy the entire house to himself. But to be honest, he was running out of things to keep himself occupied.
He had spent most of the day playing basketball with the guys before returning to his house alone, ordering pizza and stretching out in front of the TV in the den. Probably the highlight of his day was a phone call from Gabriella after dinner.
She had gone to California with her mother for two weeks to visit her grandmother. But to Troy, two weeks seemed like an eternity without his girl. Luckily she was coming home tonight and he would get to see her.
Then they all had a month to do whatever they wanted until summer ended and he and all his friends would start a major chapter in all their lives. They would become seniors. It didn't dawn on him until that moment.
'Seniors'.
The word repeated inside his head over and over. It was only a few months ago that he and Gabriella caused East High to break free from the status quo and star in East High's Twinkle Towne Musical. Only a few months ago that all his friends got summer jobs at Lava Springs and that he almost lost Gabriella for good.
Thinking of that night made him shudder. But all that was over now, and he and Gabriella were as strong as ever. Fortunately, Troy was pulled out of his thoughts by his phone. The only problem now was that he had to find it. He searched around his room for it; checking under cushions and pillows, his bedside table, under the covers, before finally finding it in one of his sneakers. How it got there he will never know.
"Talk to me." Troy answered.
"Hi Honey" replied the sound of his mother's voice.
"Hey Mom, how's the conference?" wondered Troy, lounging back on his bed once more.
"Oh, you know how these things are. Listen Troy, your father and I will be home tomorrow at about 2:30 but remember you have to go and pick up Julie at the airport at 2." reminded his mother. Troy grinned to himself.
"OK Mom. I won't forget." he promised. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye sweetheart." His mother said before hanging up. Troy threw his phone aside and pumped his fist in the hair. He had almost forgotten that she was coming.
Apart from the fact that he would see Gabi, Troy was also excited to see his cousin Julie. Julie's father, Sean, was Troy's father's older brother. She was an only child just like Troy, and spent every hour of their childhood together. They were like brother and sister. She lived in Albuquerque with her parents until her dad had got a new job and moved to New York when she was twelve. Troy was heart-broken.
Although they hadn't seen each other in person for nearly six years, Troy and Jules never lost contact. They emailed each other every week, updating each other with everything that was going on with their lives. Jules would tell tales of her life in New York City, while Troy would tell her how their friends were doing and how basketball was and told her all about Gabriella.
Then, as a surprise, Julie's parents were allowing her to stay with Troy and his parents for Senior Year. Troy actually fell off his bed when she called him up to tell him the good news. However, Troy decided that it would be better for him not to tell the guys about Julie coming to stay. It was going to be an awesome year.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Flight 366 from New York; Landed."
Troy read aloud as he surveyed the flight list above him. He decided to stand away from both the sign and the baggage pick-up to save himself from being run over by mad tourists.
"This is gonna be awesome" Troy thought to himself. "It's been six years since I've seen Julie and I can't wait to spend some time catching up. And she's gonna finally meet Gabriella. This year is gonna be fantastic."
Pretty soon, the terminal filled with people greeting loved ones, or searching for their luggage. Troy looked everywhere for any sign of his cousin, but so far he didn't have much luck.
"Where could she be…I think the planes empty." He wondered. He was about to go and check the service desk, when all of a sudden, he felt a pair of hands cover his eyes. The world had gone dark.
"What's happening Bolton?" asked a familiar voice. Troy turned around to see Julie, looking exactly the same, yet so different.
Troy smiled as he got a look at her. Her sandy blonde hair had grown much longer, now reached below her shoulders. Of course, she had grown taller, Troy knew that. He had always thought she was pretty, but she had grown beautiful over the years. Her trademark black sunglasses rested on her face like they had so many years before.
"Come here you!" cried Troy as he picked up his beloved cousin and hugged her tightly as if he would never see her again. Jules laughed as he spun her around a little.
"Wow Troy look at you." She said, as he put her back on the ground. "Still the same Troy I know and love…just taller than I remember." laughed Julie.
"Yeah, I've heard six years does that you people." Troy joked. Jules rolled her eyes and playfully shoved him.
"But, seriously Jules. You look amazing." Troy said. Jules grinned and did a little turn. Troy sighed and shook his head. His crazy cousin was definitely back. Jules turned to grab her bags when Troy noticed something.
"When did you get that?" he asked, pointing to the tiny diamante stud in her nose. Jules grinned and shrugged.
"My seventeenth." She said. "A friend of mine went with me to get it done while he got his eyebrow." Her smile soon faulted a little.
"Why? Don't you like it?" she wondered. Troy shook his head.
"No, I do. It suits you." He said as he picked her bags up and led her out to the truck.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"So what's New York like?" Troy asked. They were now on their way back to the Bolton house, after they had stopped on the way to grab a drink. Jules shrugged.
"It's alright, I guess. The initial shock and wonder of it all goes after a few years." She said.
"Really?" Troy asked. The blonde nodded.
"Yeah. I mean sure you got baseball games 24-7, Broadway shows left, right and centre but nothing compares to home. I miss you and Aunt Luce and Uncle Jack and the guys." answered Jules. "Hey speaking of which, do they know I'm coming?" she asked. Troy grinned evilly as he turned the corner.
"Nope!" he replied. "I thought it would be a cool surprise for them."
"Sneaky, Bolton, very sneaky!" said Jules with a smile. She fiddled with the straw in her drink for a moment.
"Anyway what about you? What's been happening with the great wildcat superstar lately?" she asked, taking a sip of her coke. "The last thing I heard was about the musical...which I still need to see by the way."
"Don't worry, both Mom and Chad made sure they got it on tape." Troy laughed, slightly embarrassed at the memory.
"Well, after school ended, I managed to get us all jobs at Lava Springs." He continued. Jules looked at him in complete shock.
"Lava Springs? As in the Lava Springs? The incredibly huge and incredibly expensive country club? Cuz, how did you manage to get a job there?" she wondered, taking another sip from her coke.
"I was requested, actually. Turns out The Evans Family own it." said Troy. With that, Jules almost choked on her drink. She turned and looked at her cousin in disbelief.
"Evans?! As in Sharpay and Ryan Evans?" she wondered incredulously. Troy looked at her strangely but nodded.
"Yeah… Sharpay sort of had a crush on me and tried to break-up me and Gabriella but it's all cool now. We all actually get along." said Troy. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh…umm… no reason" stammered Jules, suddenly finding her drink very interesting. Troy was quiet for a moment before it finally dawned on him.
"Oh, come on Jules." Troy said. "You can't seriously think he's mad at you."
"Troy, if I didn't talk to you at all for six years, wouldn't you be mad at me? He's gonna think I didn't want to. " Jules said. "I mean, it's not like I didn't try." Troy sighed as he turned the corner.
"Did you?" he asked. Jules looked at him.
"Of course I did." She said. The rest of the car trip was a whole lot quieter.
oOoOoOoOoOo
As they pulled up in the driveway, the two saw Jack's car parked in front of them, meaning that Troy's parents were home.
Memories soon flooded back for both Troy and Jules. It was the same house with the same tree that they used to climb into at night when they couldn't sleep, with the same basketball hoop where occasionally Julie would teach Troy a lesson.
Jules breathed a sigh of relief. She was finally home. Away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. This was Albuquerque. This was home...and she missed it terribly.
Waking up on a Saturday Morning and racing over to Troy's and wake him up. The guys would come over for breakfast; well they would raid the refrigerator anyway, and then play a few games of basketball. Life was sweet.
Troy shut off the engine and the two Bolton's got out of the car. After grabbing her bags, they headed inside.
"Mom we're home." yelled Troy, putting the suitcases down by the door. Lucille ran into the hallway from the kitchen.
"Julie look at you, you're so grown up! How are you" Lucille cried hugging her niece.
"Hey Aunt Luce." Jules smiled. Lucille smiled and let go of her niece before turning her attention to her son, who was still standing by the door with the bags.
"Troy why don't you take Jules up to her room?" suggested Lucille.
"Sure Mom" answered Troy. He picked up the bags and the two teenagers headed upstairs.
When they reached the top, Troy took Jules to the spare bedroom and sat on the bed as she unpacked her things into the dresser.
"So what did you tell the guys?" asked Jules as she folded a couple of shirts into her dresser.
"Nothing really. They were coming around anyway at about 7…they do practically every night. I just forgot to mention that you would be here." Joked Troy as he stretched out onto the bed.
"Seems like things never change around here, huh?" she asked. Troy simply smiled and shrugged.
"Some things do." He said cryptically.
Once she finished unpacking Jules and Troy sat on the bed for hours just talking like they used to. They had a lot of catching up to do. After all, it had been six years.
"I can't wait to meet Gabriella." said Jules "From what you've told me about her she seems perfect for you." Troy smiled at the sound of her name.
"She really is amazing. You're gonna love her." He said, folding his arms behind his head. "She's coming over about 5-ish"
Jules couldn't help but smile. She loved Troy with all her heart and to hear that he finally found his perfect girl just made her happy. If only she could be so lucky.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Later that evening, Jules was in the Den, sitting in an armchair with her legs hanging over the side. Her glasses rested on the end of her nose as she continued reading a basketball magazine when she overheard Troy talking to someone. About 5 minutes later Troy walked in holding hands with a pretty brunette girl.
"Julie this is Gabriella" Troy introduced. "Gabi this is my cousin Julie" Jules smiled and jumped up from her chair.
"Call me Jules. It's great to meet the famous Gabriella. Troy never stops talking about you" Jules said. This made Troy blush. Gabriella laughed.
"You're the famous one I've heard so much about you." She said.
"I swear, whatever he said it's not true." laughed Jules putting her hands up in defence.
Gabriella and Jules hit it off from the start, and Troy couldn't have been more relieved. His two favourite people in the world were getting along as if they were long lost friends and that was so special to him. He didn't know what he'd do if they didn't.
A few hours later, the three were in the den talking away when the kitchen filled up with more familiar voices. Troy smiled and got up off the couch and walked to the kitchen where he found his friends.
"Hey guys." He said casually. He looked behind the three before looking at them confused "Where are the others?"
"Ryan and Sharpay will be here later. They had some kind of rehearsal." said Zeke. Troy nodded his head in understanding.
"And Taylor and Kelsi had a few things to do before they came over." added Jason. Once again, Troy nodded his head. Chad looked at him suspiciously.
"Something's up." He said. The other two rolled they eyes at him.
"What makes you say that?" Troy wondered innocently.
"Well, first of all you didn't want to play ball with us today, so that basically speaks for itself. Then you tell us that when we come over, we have to come through the front door instead of the den like always. And you're just acting really weird...therefore, something is up." Chad said.
"Don't listen to him, man." Zeke said, rolling his eyes. "He's been like this all day." Troy shrugged.
"I have no idea what he's on about." He said.
Meanwhile, Jules and Gabriella were trying their best not to laugh and give everything away. They could hear Troy trying to come up with some excuse, but it was clear that Chad still wasn't buying it. He kept thinking about what Troy could possibly be hiding down in the den.
"You're hiding something in the den." He said. It wasn't a question.
"Maybe he's hiding a girl down there." Jason joked. That was it. Jules couldn't help but laugh then. Gabriella held her hand over her mouth but the guys had already heard her. They all looked at Troy in complete shock.
"That wasn't Gabriella." Zeke said. Troy's eyes widened as he silently cursed his cousin.
"Okay, so Hoops is hiding some strange girl down in his den... are you cheating on Gabi?" Chad wondered. Troy rolled his eyes.
"Of course not!" he said. "How could you think that?"
"Then explain the girl in the basement." Chad said, crossing his arms. Troy sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well it's kinda complicated…" he started. But Chad decided to go find out for himself. He walked past Troy and headed towards the den, with Jason and Zeke following behind them. The looks on their faces were priceless.
"Well, the only weird girl down here is me." said Jules, who was now standing up in front of the chair. The three new additions started at her in complete and total shock. It took them a few moments to realize who it was.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" yelled Chad as he raced over to Jules picking her up and spinning her into an enormous hug. Jason and Zeke then in turn hugged her too, once they could pry her out of Chad's arms.
"So this is who you had down here?" Chad wondered. Troy laughed and nodded.
"It would have been a surprise too if she didn't start laughing." He said, looking at his cousin accusingly.
"Hey, I'm sorry, but that was hysterical...thinking you were cheating on Gabriella with some strange girl." She said. "Sorry, honey. But you ain't exactly my type."
"Well, they had the strange part right." Troy said. Jules stuck her tongue out at him before turning back to Chad.
"Danforth, what the hell happened to your hair?" remarked Jules, eyeing his 'fro.
"Hey don't mess with the hair!" warned Chad.
"I won't. I like it" said Jules, messing up his 'do. Chad grinned and swatted her hand away.
"This is unbelievable. When did you get here?" asked Zeke.
"This afternoon. Troy picked me up." replied Jules.
"Well, that explains why you didn't wanna play basketball." said Jason.
"So how long are you staying? Will we have time to hang out?" wondered Chad excitedly. Suddenly, Julie's smile faded as she looked to her feet.
"I'm unfortunately not staying very long." replied Jules. The boys look disheartened and all looked at their shoes. But Gabriella and Troy were trying to stifle their fit of laughter. Jules had been known to play games like that.
"I'm only staying for the entire senior year!" screamed Jules. The den them erupted with cheers and high-fives.
oOoOoOoOoOo
After Jules had caught up with everyone, Taylor and Kelsi came through the door and were introduced to Jules. A few minutes later they were followed by two figures.
A/N: Okay, so it wasn't much of a cliffhanger...it might be too obvious, but oh well. Hope you liked it. Please REVIEW and let me know :)