Troy sat at the diner waiting for his wife of one year to arrive for their daily lunch date since their work schedules were to hectic to work around. They met everyday for lunch as an attempt to spend more time together. His mind was elsewhere as he stared at his wedding ring upon his finger. He loved his wife, Pamela, dearly and he knew she was beautiful, one of the traits he loved amongst others, but over the years Troy's mind never seemed to have forgotten Gabriella. They broke up after their first year of college since the distance was a conflict for both to handle. He never quite let her go, wandering if she ever did.
'I wonder where she could be now…or what she's doing…who's she with…is she still single? Ugh, like it matters, you're married to a great woman who loves you back just as much as you love her', and with that thought expressed to himself, Pamela walked into the diner finding Troy at their usual table.
"Hey babe!" she greeted with a soft peck on Troy's lips which he returned.
"Hey Pam, you're running a little late…" he began tease while playfully looking at his watch. She giggled at his playfulness as he simply smiled back.
"Yeah, well sorry about that one. Things at the office are even worse than they normally are for me. I have clients coming left and right and it's driving me insane! But at least its my favorite part of the day so I guess it isn't that bad then huh?" She smirked his way as her green eyes twinkled.
"Nope! Now I wander why this is your favorite part because I know why it's my favorite."
"Because I get to see my sweet husband who I just cant seem to get enough of and that I love so much with all my heart. Babe, you have no idea just how much I cherish the little time that we see each other. Especially now since I have no clue as to what hour I'm coming home from the office tonight and you're always so busy with your shows. I really do miss you during the day and it just makes me happy to sit here with you and enjoy being in your presence even if it is only for an hour." Pamela said as she grasped unto his left hand that laid against the table, sincerity gleaming through her bright eyes. Troy stared intently back piercing his blue eyes into hers.
"Well on my behalf, I must say that I love you twice as much as you love me…and don't argue that one. I know that we don't see each other as much as we would like to but trust me when I say that our love is stronger than ever and that because you and I make it work. So we don't always go out like normal couples do but that doesn't mean that we don't have a special place for each other here." Troy swiftly pointed at his heart with his right hand as his left still clutched onto hers, speaking with reassurance in his voice.
Suddenly the waitress appeared with her notepad in hand, "Can I take your orders?"
The couple released their hands from one another as they skimmed their menus, forgetting to look at them before.
"Um…yeah, I'll have a Chili Burrito with extra tomatoes, curly cheese fries on the side, and a Coke" Troy ordered as the waitress took his menu.
"As for me, I'll take the Lasagna with garlic bread and a Sprite." Pam smiled at the waitress as she finished writing down their orders.
"Alright, I'll be back in a jiffy with your orders." She said as she walked off.
"So how are the shows coming along Mr. Broadway?" Pamela teased with a slight smirk at the nickname she had for him.
"They're coming along just fine actually. It's only into its second week on Broadway and so far it's been a hit. Critics seemed so have give nothing but good reviews and the seats are full every night. In fact, we have done three shows a day for two weeks now and there has been over six sold out shows. I guess we have the promotional companies and all the publicity to thank for that one. I guess the critics are to be thanked to since they're usually cut throat about these things but have been very positive. I'm glad this show is doing better than the other plays I've taken part in. So overall, life is good. I have my dream job in New York City, which is by far the best city on this planet, I'm alive with good health, and I have a gorgeous wife. What more could I want?" he asked aloud but in the back of his mind he knew someone was missing, someone with long wavy brown hair and the eyes to match.
"That's great sweetie! I'm proud of you and it makes me happy just to know that you're happy…"
"That I am. You're part of the reason why Pam."
"Could you be anymore…perfect? I mean seriously, even after a year of marriage and I dated you for like two years before, you'd think by now that I would get used to you saying little things like that. Gosh, I'll never get tired of it though."
"I hope not cause I like seeing that slight blush you never seem to fail to get." Troy responded as his mind drifted off to his remembrance of how Gabriella's used to blush.
"Do not!" she childishly stated as he chuckled when she moved her hands to cover her cheeks
The couple continued their light-hearted conversation as the waitress soon came with their orders.
- - Meanwhile - -
Gabriella let out a slightly frustrated sigh as she flipped through the pages of the newspaper. It was only 12:45 pm, fifteen more minutes of doing nothing until she was to start work again. She was the magazine editor of Clique magazine, an up and coming magazine that has had 5 successful issues.
"Can't wait for five o'clock to come already. I'm exhausted from all this…fifteen more minutes of 'me' time before everyone comes in here with work to show. I love my job but sometimes it's just stressful judging what goes and what doesn't especially when you know everyone else has to work hard to please you and try their best when it isn't good enough sometimes." Gabriella thought to herself with a blank look upon her face as her cell phone suddenly rang, bringing her back down to reality.
She looked at the caller ID and smiled when she saw the face of her best friend Taylor.
"Hey Tay!" she excitedly let out.
"Hey Gab! Thought I'd call you and check up on how things are going with you over there in little old California." Taylor was known for checking up on Gabriella every so often.
"Things are still the same as when you last called Tay. The job is going well and it's paying my growing bills so there's a plus. Besides that, I'm planning a celebration for the employees for the success of this magazine but I haven't quite figured out what to do just yet. Um, what else is there…" Gabriella tried figuring what else she could tell her friend all about.
"And how's the love life going for you?" she bluntly asked.
Through the other end of the phone, Gabriella allowed a soft groan to escape in frustration, as she knew that that question was bound to come. Taylor normally asked this question since she felt concern that her friend has been single for more than a year now with off and on dating with random guys but none seeming to be what Gabriella wanted. Gabriella's mind began to wander how she would answer Taylor's question.
"Gab? You there?"
"Yeah, I'm here. Sorry…um…well, as for my love life, remember the guy Kevin that I told you about? He has black hair and the hazel eyes? Yeah, well uh…things didn't work with that one either. He was too…clingy? I don't know, it wasn't going right and I knew it wouldn't have lasted anyway." She admitted to Taylor, yet she also knew there was someone else involved too…someone who she hasn't seen in over 3 ½ years.
"Gab, if I didn't know you any better I would have actually thought that you just simply didn't like the guy, but I do know you and I know that you aren't allowing yourself to open up to any of the possibilities of what could happen with these guys. Look, I understand that your heart might still be searching for that one guy that got away and I know that you know who I'm talking about. Mr. Troy Bolton perhaps?" Taylor knew that saying his name would get a reaction out of Gabriella and just wanted her best friend to own up to her feelings.
"Alright, alright, you got me! Tay is it so bad for me to still ponder over him after all these years? Is it wrong for me to compare almost every guy I meet to Troy? Gosh, he was just so perfect! I mean, I didn't mean to just lose contact with him but it seems as though he wasn't trying that hard either. Oh gosh, I'm so pathetic! I can't believe that my heart still feels something for him and I haven't heard anything about him at all. Who knows what's going on with his life or what he's doing, who he's with, anything! I am pathetic, aren't I?" Gabriella rambled her thoughts at the speed of light leaving Taylor slightly confused as to what she said.
"No, you're not pathetic…you cant always control what the heart feels Gabby. It happens, its normal. No one ever said that getting over your first love is easy especially after the years that you guys were together. I mean four years is a long time! I'm sorry Gab; I didn't mean to get you that worked up. It's that you're twenty-five already and you haven't had a serious relationship for the past five. I just want you to be happy already. You know what, I got an idea!" Taylor exclaimed excitedly with a slight squeal.
"It better be a good one McKessie…" Gabriella stated with an uneasy tone.
"Well, if your heart must insist on its feelings for Troy, do something about it! What do you say we try looking up Mr. Bolton? You know, like where he could be. Basically track him down and set out on a road trip and find him! Doesn't that sound exciting?"
"You mean to tell me that your idea is to basically stalk him down?"
"Why not?"
"Taylor I just can't do that…I can't leave my job for that long to search a guy that once loved me if he still doesn't now which I'm sure. That's just a bit too out there. Don't you think? Besides, what am I going to do or say to him? 'Hey Troy, haven't seen you in awhile so I decided to pop out the blue and sweep you off your feet until your mine'?"
"Well something along those lines would work! I'd joking by the way about that, but I'm very serious about the road trip to find him. We could even include Chad!" Taylor and Chad weren't dating anymore but stood as good friends after graduation. Chad lost contact with Troy once Troy left Albuquerque and went to New York to fulfill his dream of acting. Troy eventually stopped calling once his career started to take off.
" I don't know Tay…" Taylor noted the uneasiness in Gabriella's voice again.
"Come on Gabby! Why not try something spontaneous? Why not allowing yourself to just give in and let go of it all and just say 'Screw it'! You deserve to be happy just as much as everyone else does, so why not take the chance just this once and see where it takes you? If it doesn't work then you don't ever to let me convince you to try anything that you're unsure of, but if it does work then hopefully you'll get the love of your life." Taylor tried convincing knowing that Gabriella would soon give in.
"Well, when you put it that way…"
"Great! I'll get in touch with Chad and call you later tonight to start planning!"
"Fine…I guess. Anyway Taylor, I got to let you go. My fifteen minutes are up and I already hear the knocks at my door of people waiting to make me work. Call me later and we'll discuss this then. Talk to you soon." With that said, Gabriella hung up her phone and let out an exasperated sigh.
'Was Taylor really serious?'
- - Later that night - -
"Taylor, I just can't! It's crazy and stalkerish and ju-just so…impossible!" exclaimed Gabriella causing Chad to laugh from the other line since he was joined on three-way with the ladies.
"Gabs, nothing's impossible. Besides, what's so crazy about finding love?" questioned Chad who had listened intently on the girls' conversation until then.
"I don't know…I just don't want to intrude on whatever life he might have now. I mean, it must be something great and busy if he hasn't really kept in touch with you through the years Chad." Gabriella stated.
"True, but maybe he has different reasons. Look Gabby, I miss Troy too…he was my best friend since pre-school. I want to see him just as how as I know you do, so why not just take this crazy chance and see how it goes? It may or may not work out as we hope but at least you're not alone." The curly haired man said, surprising the girls with the wisdom he provided.
"Gabriella, I must actually say that I agree with Chad here. By the way Chad, since when did you become 'Mr. Advice'?" Taylor said with a slight chuckle and scoff.
"Surprised you, didn't I? Well, we all change a bit during the years, this how I made mine" returned Chad.
"Well, I must admit that I like it" the darker girl proclaimed with a blush upon her cheeks.
"Thank you! So um…uh…oh! Back to the original topic. Gab you still there?" Chad said with a shaky tone from the nervousness from Taylor's compliment.
"Uh, yeah. So, when should we do this so that I can start scheduling my time off?" questioned Gabriella.
"Wait! So you're down to look for Bolton?" Taylor excitedly asked her best friend.
"Yeah, I guess so. Chad proved a point and I guess I shouldn't be selfish to stop this trip because of my fear and concerns. Besides, you only live once right? What could possibly by the worst that could happen?" with that said, the three started to plan their road trip in search of Troy.
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So hi! My name is Carla and this is my very first fictional story that I've posted.
If I have any typing errors, forgive me.
If you have any thoughts/ opinion, message me!
If you just like the story, review it.
I hope you guys enjoy the vision that I have so far for this story and where it will eventually go.
I will try to update as often as I can since college just started and work will be given often.
Anyways, thanks for reading my 1st chapter!