Author's Note: I already wrote this entire story, so I should be posting a chapter at least once a week. I based it off a trip I took with a few friends over Memorial Day weekend, with lots of twists and turns. Some of theses events actually happened, but half of it is fiction and wishful thinking. The question is: which half?
Warning to all: this story focuses fairly evenly on both Troyella and Ryelsi...don't like, don't read
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the High School Musical franchise.
"Good morning, Mami!" Gabriella greeted, bouncing down the stairs.
"Good morning, mija," her mother smiled. Ever since they had moved to Albuquerque, Gabriella was bouncy. She needed no wake-up call, nor did she fuss about getting to school on time. Of course, Ms. Montez suspected this had to do with something at East High...or actually, someone. Troy Bolton, also known as Gabriella's "best friend".
Another girl, the spitting image of Gabriella, bounced down the stairs behind her older sister. On this day, both girls wore dark blue skinny jeans. Gabriella wore a light pink shirt to contrast her Latina skin, and Sophia chose sky blue for the same reason. The girls sat side by side at the kitchen table, where their mother had set out everything they needed for their morning bowls of Cheerios.
The breakfast table was filled with chatter about special events coming up. Too quickly, it was time for Gabriella to hop onto the morning bus. She picked up her messenger bag and grabbed her favorite white jacket off the coat rack.
"Have a good day Mami!" she called over her shoulder as she opened the front door. "See you later, Sophia!"
She closed the front door and jogged down the path, then the driveway, until she reached the road. She quickly glanced to both sides before scurrying across the road, where the bus picked her up every morning.
Arriving at school, Gabriella headed straight for her locker, as usual. There, Troy joined her.
"Good morning," he greeted brightly. They launched into a lengthy conversation about the homework from the previous night.
"I'm so excited for next weekend," Troy grinned, moving into the subject smoothly.
"I know-it's going to be so much fun!" Gabriella squealed. She leapt into the details-what to wear, specific times, and other things she hadn't yet mentioned, along with everything she had. Chad and Taylor watched them from a distance.
"This is starting to get on my nerves," Chad complained, referring to his best friend and the smart girl at his side. His girlfriend rolled her eyes.
"If it's meant to be, it'll happen. We just have to stop interfering," she emphasized, "and give it time. I'm sure Gabi and Troy will confess eventually."
"Fine," Chad grumbled. Taylor took his hand and led him to their friends.
"Hey lovebirds!" Chad greeted, brightening instantly. It was his morning ritual. Taylor elbowed his stomach, Gabriella blushed, and Troy scratched the back of his neck awkwardly-their morning rituals. Taylor changed the subject.
"So, is everything set for next weekend?" she asked. Gabriella nodded excitedly.
"You bet. We have everything ready to go. That reminds me-I have to give you all the final details!" she exclaimed. The two girls ran off to discuss last-minute specifics.
"When are you going to tell her?" Chad asked. Troy rolled his eyes and followed the girls to homeroom without responding. Gabriella and Taylor were already talking to Kelsi, who had been moved to their homeroom for the rest of the year.
"I can't believe we're staying at New York's fanciest hotel!" Taylor squealed. Just then, the Evans twins strolled in. Sharpay walked past the other girls to greet Zeke with a small kiss on the lips before returning to the girls, dragging Ryan with her.
"Good morning, ladies," Ryan greeted, tipping his hat. He and Kelsi shared a private glance, and the other girls nudged each other silently. Troy walked past and grabbed Gabriella's waist, pulling her away from the crowded desk.
"Troy," she whined, annoyed at him for pulling her away from her other friends.
"Gabriella," he mimicked.
The bell rang, sending the students to their desks. They sat, paying no attention to their overly dramatic teacher at the front of the room. Instead, the students thought about the weekend ahead. After all, what else do you think about on a Friday morning?
"Where are we going?" Sharpay asked.
"Unlike you, Kelsi and I don't have closets full of clothing. We need to buy a number of things for Gabriella's celebration next weekend, so we're going to the mall," Taylor sighed, slightly annoyed with the blond.
"Well then why am I going?" Sharpay complained. Kelsi took over.
"Because we need your blunt fashion expertise." No more was needed to convince Sharpay.
"Come on ladies, hurry up! We've still got to check 4 more stores!" Sharpay ordered. Taylor emerged from her dressing room. Sharpay took one look at her.
"No," she decided. "Absolutely not." The same decision was handed down to Kelsi. After exhausting all their possibilities at that store, they moved on. So far, the shopping trip had brought limited success. They had limited information on how formally they needed to dress, so they were figuring it out as they went.
"Perfect," Sharpay beamed at last. Kelsi looked in the mirror again, unsure if the dress was the right choice for her.
"Are you sure?" she checked. The dress was not what she usually wore. Then again, Kelsi rarely wore dresses in general. This particular dress was knee-length. It was silky, midnight blue and strapless. To cover her shoulders, Kelsi had grabbed a white cloth shrug. Sharpay smiled.
"Trust me-it's exactly what you need to impress Ryan," she reassured, ignoring the smaller girl's look of total shock. How could Sharpay have possibly known about her secret crush? "Taylor! Hurry up!" Sharpay called into the next dressing room.
"No way! I'm not coming out!" After a bit of cajoling, Taylor reluctantly opened the door.
"You're not wearing that," Sharpay dismissed. "I'm not letting you wear that." Taylor stepped back into the dressing room, grateful that Sharpay agreed with her decision. She came out wearing her jeans and a dressy red top. Kelsi jumped in before Sharpay could.
"Buy it," she said. Sharpay nodded her agreement.
"With a little black skirt, it'll be perfect for the show."
"Uh, guys? There's one problem with that-I don't have a little black skirt," Taylor pointed out.
"Why are you so impossible?" Sharpay groaned. Kelsi ran from the dressing room area. When she returned, she was carrying a short black skirt.
"I've trained you well," Sharpay praised, a tear in her eye. Taylor laughed and took the skirt, which she decided to keep. After a few more stops, the girls left the mall that evening, ready for the approaching celebration. At least, as ready as they could be with what little information they had received.
"Okay, I'll wear dress pants and a collared shirt, but do I really have to wear a tie?" Troy asked Gabriella. They were talking on the phone.
"Yes and a sports jacket, too. And tell Chad that the rules also apply to him," Gabriella repeated. She had already told the boys four times that they needed to dress up, but they didn't want to believe it. So they kept asking.
"Fine, we'll get dressed up. Just remember that we're only doing this for you. You'd better be grateful." She giggled on the other end of the line. "I have to go-it's time for dinner," Troy sighed. If he had the chance, he would stay on the phone with Gabriella for hours.
"Alright-video chat tonight?" she asked hopefully. She didn't want to hang up, either. He nodded before remembering that she couldn't see him.
"You bet."
"So, mija, what should I make for dinner on Friday?" Ms. Montez asked her daughter at the dinner table Tuesday night.
"Make spaghetti and meatballs! It's Troy's favorite," Sophia teased. Before Gabriella could defend against that, their mother jumped in.
"Everyone loves spaghetti and meatballs," she pointed out.
"Not Taylor," Gabriella replied. "She doesn't like meatballs or meat sauce."
"What about meatloaf?" Ms. Montez tried.
"Nope-Chad can't stand it," Gabriella shot down one idea after another.
"That's it-we're going to the Buffet," Ms. Montez decided. It was too difficult trying to coordinate the appetites of eight teenagers and a pair of little sisters, plus five extended family members. Some things were better left to professionals.
"That sounds like a plan," Gabriella agreed. Sophia nodded. The celebration was shaping up to be the best they had ever planned.
"Today's Thursday," Kelsi stated. The others nodded. All eight teens were assembled in the hallway, ready to leave.
"But it feels like a Friday," Ryan pointed out.
"That's because we have no school tomorrow," Zeke explained, wrapping his arm around Sharpay's shoulders.
"Yeah-we just have the most amazing seventeenth birthday party ever!" Taylor squealed.
"Remember-be at my house at five, okay?" Gabriella reminded them, leaning into Troy. He wrapped his arm around her waist instinctively. Gabriella ignored her friends' smirks as they nodded. Each went a separate way, pumped for the weekend that awaited them.
Next Chapter: everyone gets ready to go to New York, plus a few key characters you haven't met before...
