Spring.

Eleanor Montez served as the mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico for nearly a decade. In that time, she hosted many events that included food drives and charity auctions that helped provide for the needy and the sick. She built affordable housing for the poor, as well as recreational centres and parks to give the youth a place to grow and play. She also improved public education – both the foundation and the curriculum of all the schools in the city. For all her contributions, Eleanor Montez was loved by all.

And I say the words "was loved" because today would be her funeral.

She had been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer associated with the overproduction of plasma cells, early last spring and failed to run again as mayor. Due to her critical condition, Maria Montez, her only daughter residing in Albuquerque, took Eleanor into her home to take care of her until her death.

Bolton Residence

"Troy, are you ready? We're gonna be late!" Lucille shouted at her teenage son from the downstairs living room.

This past week had been a hectic one. There was no doubt that Troy would deny that statement. Ever since news broke out that Eleanor's long awaited death had been announced to the public, the entire city ... the entire state had been going crazy. Everywhere he goes, there's news about "the greatest mayor that ever lived", and that was according to The New Mexico Tribute. He can't even go to East High without seeing journalists cover a story about how she transformed a once run down high-school into one of the greatest architectural buildings in town, with red and white interiors and state-of-the art everything. Even the basketball courts that he and his friends go to just to shoot some hoops has been, for the past week, a shrine for Eleanor. After all, she did build the Albuquerque Sports Centre, a big dome that housed basketball, tennis, volleyball courts; football and soccer fields; swimming pools, and a gym with its own indoor track.

Today, Troy thought, would be the last day and everything would go back to normal. It's not that he hated the past week. He had known Eleanor since he can remember and he loved her just like she was his own grandmother. It was because he didn't want his mother running around, being tired and hungry, and losing sleep like she has in the past week, the past year even.

Jack Bolton and Maria Montez had known each other since they can remember – they grew up together, went to school together and even had the same group of friends all throughout high school. So when Jack Bolton introduced Lucille James to the entire gang in the summer after his third year in university, Lucille and Maria had become the best of friends.

When Lucille decided to leave her hometown in California after graduation to move in with Jack, her family had disowned her. The only people she could rely on were the Montez Family—the late Roberto and Eleanor Montez and Maria, along with her sisters. And when Jack had proposed to her, it was the Montez Family again who helped her plan and pay for the wedding. Lucille's family members, after a couple of years, have come around to apologize and ask to be part of her son, Troy's life and she eventually forgave them. But to Lucille, the Montez Family was her true family. This was why Lucille had stood by Maria's side through the past year.

At nights when Maria had to stay late or even go out of town for business meetings, Lucille would take care of Eleanor. Even after her death, Lucille would help Maria take care of Eleanor's unfinished documents, some issues regarding the funeral, the choice of cemetery, even deciding what to write on the epitaph of the tombstone.

Troy hated being selfish. He would never admit it but he had missed his mother. He was sure that his dad missed her too. In the past year, his mother had stopped going to his basketball games or his father's basketball games (Jack Bolton is the coach for the New Mexico Knights Basketball Team). It even took all their energy to convince her to go to their Annual Trip to the Swiss Alps during Christmas Break because she feared leaving Eleanor and Maria alone. In the end, she agreed to go but even then she was distant. But after today, Troy thought, his mother would finally be able to rest.

"Troy, I said, Are you ready?", Lucille shouted once again.

Troy had come running down the stairs to see his mother waiting on the couch. When she had seen his attire—ball shorts and an East High sweatshirt—she nearly had a heart attack.

"What have you been doing upstairs, young man? Why haven't you showered?" Lucille asked with frustration.

"Seriously, mom, if you have to go, why don't you go ahead? I'll just catch a ride with dad to the cathedral."

"Your dad's not coming home, remember? He's picking up Maria's sisters, nieces and nephews at the airport. They're landing in about an hour or so and he'll just meet us at St. Michael's." Lucille said, slightly annoyed at the fact that her son was far from being ready. "Come on Troy. Just come with me. Who cares if we're a little bit early? You can help us set up, put flowers along the altar or something."

"Mom, a little bit early? The funeral's in four hours!", Troy retorted. What is there to do for four hours, Troy thought, stare at Jesus?

"Like I said, you can help us set up. Gabriella's here, you know. She just got to Albuquerque last night with her father. She might be there right now" Lucille said.

"Gabriella who?" Troy asked, arching his eyebrow.

"Troy, you can't be serious. Gabriella, Auntie Maria's daughter. You've met her before, right?"

"Nah I don't think so", Troy said slightly not interested and impatient. "Listen mom, is it okay if I just catch a ride with the Danforths or something? Chad's home right now, there's no way in hell that he's gonna be at St. Michael's four hours early".

It was moments like these that Lucille wished she had a daughter instead. Teenage boys are so difficult. "Okay, okay! Once again Troy, you win" She said after a long sigh. How Troy managed to get what he wanted, she had no idea. She kissed her son on the cheek before she left and said "Please be on time and look your very best. Eleanor means so much to us, and you know that."

"I know. Thanks mom." Troy said as he shot his mother his famous smile. "I'll see you in a few".

Once Lucille left, Troy ran back upstairs and grabbed his phone. "Hello Chad? ... Yeah, let me shower and I'll be there in half an hour".

Just as he put his phone down, he heard his text message ring tone. He picked it up and read a message from Kendra:

"Hey sexy. Come over for a bit"

Kendra Powalski and Troy Bolton had no relationship at all, besides their sexual one. What can he say? Throughout the school year, he's just plain too busy. He juggles his grades, his part time job at the Sports Centre, East High basketball during school season, State basketball during off season, and family and friends all in one plate. A girlfriend just wouldn't fit into his schedule. But he had needs and Kendra was readily available.

He dialed Chad's number once again. "Chad actually, I'll be there in two hours. Can I actually get ready at your house? … Thanks. Later dude."

He grabbed his dress shoes and dry-cleaned suit still placed neatly in a bag, along with his car keys. He made his way to his garage and drove to Kendra's. He would then have to drive to Chad's and get ready there. It was going to be a long day. The funeral mass would begin in four hours and once the funeral's over, all the chaos would be over as well. But somehow, Troy felt that today would be the start of something else.

Something new.

Something big.