Hey! Here's another series I decided to start. I hope you'll enjoy reading it ^^

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez or any of the High School Musical characters. Or High School Musical. That goes to Disney.


Countryside Adventures

Chapter 1 – Wasteland, No More

The sun rised over the mountains in Tennessee an early morning. It was the beginning of summer and the lake was gently coloured red. How beautiful everything was on this time of the year.

The cheerful birds were sitting in the trees, singing their joyful song.

As everything began to take place for a new day, something was different.

Because in this part of Tennessee there had always used to be only two farms, but only one of them was inhabitated. But that was, obviously, about to change.

A large removal van was parked outside the second farm that was right beside the other.

In the farm that there already lived people the day was about to begin.

"Troy, honey! Time to get up!" Lucille Bolton shouted from the hallway.

"Daniel, that goes for you too!" she continued as she passed Troy's elder brother's room.

"Ugh!" Troy groaned into his pillow.

Little did he know that today, would be a day that would change his life.

On this farm, Troy, his brother Daniel, his mother Lucille, and his father Jack, lived.

They were the only human beings in miles distance. Until just now…

Lucille was now on her way over to the neighbour farm.

"Good morning," Lucille said cheerfully.

"Good morning," another woman replied, obviously surprised, but happy over the warm reception.

"If you don't mind me asking, are you our new neighbours?" Lucille asked.

"Yeah! We're moving in this afternoon. I suppose you live next door." the other woman said.

"Yes. It's so nice that someone finally decided to move in here. It gets kind of lonely, sometimes. This is a beautiful place. It's just that not everyone sees the charm in it." Lucille said.

"Oh, yes I know what you mean. Half of the reason why we decided to move here, was that we knew that there were neighbours next door. I'm Leslie Montez, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you." she said and shook hands with Lucille.

"I'm Lucille Bolton, it's nice to meet you too." she smiled.

A young girl stepped out of the car. She turned her head and looked over to her mother. A lock of hair fell down in her face, but she pushed it behind her ear and smiled.

"Hi, I'm Gabriella," she offered her hand to Lucille.

"Oh, hey Gabriella. I'm Lucille Bolton, I live next door." Lucille said.

Gabriella smiled.

"Cool!" Gabriella said. Then another girl came out of the car. She looked older.

"Hey, I'm Jessica." she said to Lucille.

After the introduction, Lucille had met both of Leslie's daughters, Gabriella and Jessica, and her husband, Carlos. Carlos was Filipino, and Gabriella took that from him, with her long, dark hair, her chocolate eyes and her tanned, plain skin.

While Jessica looked more like her mother who was American. Jessica had medium long, blonde hair, blue eyes, and her skin was white and plain.

The two girls did not look like sisters at all, and Lucille couldn't have guessed that they were even related.

"I don't want to sound importunate or anything, but I would love to have you all over for dinner tonight. Only if you have time of course." Lucille said.

"That would be lovely, Lucille. We really should get to know each other better. After all, we will be seeing each other everyday," Leslie said.

"Good! I'll see you tonight then?" Lucille said, obviously very happy over her new neighbours.

"We'll be there," Carlos smiled.

Then Lucille went back to her home.

"Boys! Are you up?" Lucille shouted up the stairs. Troy came fully dressed out of the bathroom.

"I'm up, mom." Troy said.

"That's good, honey. What are you doing today?" she asked.

"Well, it's summer vacation... I was thinking of taking Skybound for a ride," he shrugged.

"Okay, good. We're having guests tonight, so be back," his mother said.

"Are we having guests?" Troy stifled a laugh.

"Yes, believe it or not, but someone are moving in to the house next door," his mother was very pleased.

"You're kidding!?" Troy exclaimed.

When he was little, that had always been his big dream.

"No, it's true. And they're coming for dinner tonight. I expect you to be here," his mother told him. Troy nodded.

"I'll be here," he assured her and kissed her cheek, before he went to get his horse ready.

"Hey Skybound, how about we ride without the saddle today? I know how much it bothers you," Troy said to his horse. Personally, Troy preferred to ride without the saddle. It felt more real.

Skybound replied with a neigh.

Troy smiled as he got his horse ready for a ride in the wood.

Skybound was only 4 years old, and the filly of another horse at the farm. When it was born Troy had begged his parents to let it be Troy's horse. And since that day, Troy had loved Skybound.

He led Skybound out to the courtyard. If anyone at school had seen him now, he probably wouldn't be so cool anymore.

Troy climbed onto his horse and set off against the wood path.

Before he reached the forest, there was an huge meadow. When he rode here, he felt so free, like he was flying among grass and flowers.

Skybound was obviously happy to get out of the gloomy stable too.

"Good boy," Troy said to his horse as they galloped across the meadow.

They reached the timber line and Troy slowed down and turned to the left. He knew exactly where he was going.

He was so glad that school was done. Now he had two whole months to ride Skybound to his secret spot in the forest.

No one knew about that spot. It was his' and only his'. No one understood how he could spend so many hours out. In the summer, he could be gone for an entire day.

He had called it 'Waterfall Paradise'. Cliché? Yes, but true.

There was a waterfall and a small lake beyond it. It was perfectly deep, so Troy could dive and watch the fish in one end, and Skybound could wade around and drink in the other end.

And when it wasn't weather to swim, he would lay down on one of the islets or the grassy plain on the other side of the small lake.

A few years ago, Troy had hung a swing up in one of the trees. In that way, he could swing and let himself down in the water.

Like in The Notebook, he thought.

This place was absolutely perfect, and that's why he didn't tell anybody about it.

He saw the clearing in between the trees and how the lake glittered in the light of the sun.

It was a beautiful day. A real perfect summer day.

And the best of all, this kind of weather was reported all summer.

Troy climbed off Skybound and let him go. He didn't have to tie him up. Skybound never left Troy.

Troy gave Skybound two lumps of sugar. He was crazy about them.

He smiled at his horse before he took off his t-shirt, showing off the perfect muscles of his chest. All the basketball really had left its mark.

Then he jumped into the lake. He looked at fish and then he surfaced.

"The water is perfect, Skybound. Really." Troy said, as he wiped the water out of his face.

Sometimes, Troy wondered if Skybound really could hear him.
And now was not an exception. Skybound walked into the water to Troy.

He laughed and climbed onto Skybound's soaked back.

After a while Troy was laying on the grassy plain and Skybound was pasturing beside him.

He was drying in the sun.

Troy thought about what his mother said about their new neighbours and he regretted that he hadn't asked his mother if any of them were his age.

Oh, that's right! The dinner! He had often experienced how fast the time passed when he was up here. It was time to go back. He got up.

"Come on Skybound," Troy said.

As usual, Skybound came as soon as he heard Troy call his name.

Troy climbed onto his back and rode out of the forest. As soon as he was out of it, he quickened his pace and galloped across the meadow, and back to the farm.


Please tell me if I should continue.. It gets better, I promise :)

Stay tuned for the next chapter! ^^

*Melody