Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or any such thing involved.
Troy's point of view.
I don't know how. I just don't know. I don't know how a guy's best friend could be so awesome but at the same time still be so stupid! Sometimes I wondered if it made me stupid for even being his best friend. I had not a clue. I stood silent. I was looking at my close friends whom were all sitting in the room with me. All of us were seated on the long couch. Don't ask why. It will probably be the craziest thing you're going to find out. At least, that's how it makes me feel. As for the rest of the people in the room, I'm not too sure how they feel about it. But judging by the expressions on each of their faces, I could tell they were thinking the same thing I was this very moment.
"No way, man!" Zeke blurted. I blinked twice and turned my head to see Zeke with an angered expression. I sighed as I tilted my head forward, agreeing with the simple sentence he put. I looked over at my best friend of sixteen years, whom had a hopeless look on his own face. A look that indicated that he felt hurt and shut down by Zeke's outburst. A look that only I could recognize and read so well, I thought it was pathetic.
A pain tugged at my temples. I was beginning to get a headache just from the overwhelming thought of sitting here and listening to him speak his peace. But let's just cut the crap right here. The whole reason for this gathering of me, my wife, and best friends is because Chad Kennith Danforth had an idea in mind. An idea that not only I wanted to kill him for, but an idea that is so simple, yet ridiculous because of certain conditions. And naturally, Chad had a funny sob story to go with his reason for this plan...
Flashback-
The sun peeked through the window, nearly blinding twenty-one year old Chad as he lifted himself out from underneath the covers. He rubbed the sleep from hi eyes and blinked them to adjust the the sun shining through the drapes of his apartment. Once his mind was put together by images of his room, now realizing he was awake, he sighed as he searched for the current time of the day.
'9:48 am' he mumbled to no one as he left his bed to go pee. After a few minutes of trying to fully wake himself up, he stumbled on into the kitchen, wearing nothing other than boxer shorts and a navy blue T-shirt, and opened his refrigerator door. Chad grimaced at the sight of what was in his fridge. Inside, everything was messy and gross-looking. There were one week old Chinese takeaway boxes stuffed in the back of the fridge with open sodas and beer bottles, and much more messy things beyond its point. He searched for milk high and low in the mess only to find out that the half empty carton of milk that was left was curdled and spoiled. He closed the fridge, feeling discouraged.
'So much for a bowl of cereal even' he muttered disappointingly. He walked around the kitchen aimlessly, hoping to find a compromise for breakfast.
'No money in my pocket, so no going out to eat' he thought. How his stomach rumbled in protest, he couldn't think straight. He slouched over on the couch and rubbed his face giving up. He looked up to the ceiling and thought to himself.
He felt worthless and mentally sick of his lifestyle. He looked around at his apartment and sighed again. He didn't like the way he lived. His apartment was a mess, he had nothing more to do with his day besides go to school and work, and on certain occasions see his girlfriend when she wasn't busy.
Taylor McKessie was definitely always busier than Chad, which usually made him feel like a waste of her time because he was usually a lazy pig. But regardless, she still loved the goofball. And he definitely loved her too. He felt like he had no life without her in it. But currently, she had been the only once he's seen since his friends were now doing their own thing nowadays.
Sharpay and Zeke were getting ready for their grand wedding that was coming up after Labor Day. Troy and Gabriella were getting prepared for their new baby boy that was to be born sometime after Labor Day weekend and were still managing their three year old daughter. And Kelsi and Ryan had much to do about writing musicals for their elementary school they taught music at. Clearly they were definitely busier than him. Chad felt like he was the only one left that needed to shape up. He felt like if he didn't soon, he would lose his friends forever and the love of his life. He didn't want it. Overall, he had missed his friend's company. Especially Troy, whom had a lot to deal with now that his wife of two years was pregnant again and his life had been pretty hectic. He missed being around Troy and reeking havoc with him and making his life miserable whenever he got the chance
Soon there was a knock at his door. He wondered who it could be.
'They probably want to evict me and repossess everything I own' he thought negatively as he got off of the sofa and went to answer the door. It was his truly. His love and the light to his dark world, Taylor Arman McKessie.
She came through with a smile so bright and so heat-filled, it made Chad melt. Her milk-chocolate skin so shiny and healthy looking and her smiley features stole his heart right out of his chest. He planted a kiss on her soft lips and felt her embrace. Every time she came through that door, it felt like he hadn't seen her in an eternity, he loved her so much.
"'Morning, bed head" Taylor teased as she ruffled his brown frizzy hair and walked passed him, having him follow the sweet scent of her body spray and the smell that came from a small pink bag that she brought with her.
"What's in the bag?" He asked jokingly. Taylor chuckled sensing his humor. She pulled out a freshly baked chocolate chip muffin. His favorite. She slowly moved the treat to his mouth where he gladly took a bite from it. Resulting to Taylor to smile at her boyfriend of three year and a half years to and Chad feeling satisfied to have food in his mouth and his love in his sight.
"Ever heard of cleaning?" she commented, making Chad's mood slap down. Back to reality, it went.
"I haven't found the time to" he said scratching his head and ruffling his curls back into place. He looked around his apartment and felt embarrassment slap him in his face. There were clothes scattered everywhere and there were dishes left out with discarded food objects that were in their first degree rotting stage. His apartment was a pig sty.
"Well you'd better unless you want the health inspector to have you evicted just because you're too lazy to clean your own apartment" Taylor sighed as she folded some of the clothes on his floor. He had went and disposed of the garbage that had been sitting in the kitchen for over a week and begun cleaning the apartment. He felt it was good if he did, that way he could find some kind of motivation. After being helped by Taylor, his apartment was spotless. His fridge was empty, but clean. Luckily for him, Taylor offered to pay for his groceries. Such a considerate girl he had.
"Tay?" Chad said grabbing her attention from putting away the last pile of laundry she folded.
"Hmm?" she responded with a light smile painted on her dark complexion.
"Can we talk?" he asked her, his expression growing troubled. She nodded and then followed him back into the living room and sat down on the sofa. She sat closely beside him and stroked his brown spiral locks.
"What's going on, Chad?" she asked with her voice being soft and soothing to him as she stroked his hair.
"I've been thinking a lot lately" he paused. She sat up straight.
"I don't think I'm too comfortable with the way my life is going lately" he started but then was quickly interrupted by a now anxious and worried Taylor.
"Chad, are you breaking up with me?" she asked, sounding very frantic in her voice.
Chad shook his head quickly and reassuringly, "No, no, no, I'm not. I promise. I'm trying to say that I'm tired of waking up in the morning and doing the same old thing I do every day" he explained.
Taylor exhaled and calmed herself. She tried to understand where Chad was getting at with his wishful thinking. "How do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean, I'm sick of just going to school, going to work and working my ass off for nothing, coming home and moping around in my own mess, wishing I could hang out with my friends again" he sighed. It hurt chad to think about the old days when him and his buddies were in high school. He missed those days.
"I want to do something with everyone just one more time before we all get completely settled into our own lives" he thought. Taylor looked more confused than ever. She didn't know how she could help Chad over come this need. She knew that everyone had been too busy to hang out, so chances were, he wouldn't get a chance to get the gang together unless someone's funeral was coming up. Sad as it was, it was true.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked.
Chad thought long and hard with only a moment to spare before he could respond. He wanted the gang to come together and have a good time like they used to. He thought of many ways but none of them seemed good enough to do. Then it came to him. Probably the best idea he could come up with. It was fun, filled with activities, and it could be a really cool weekend.
"Camping" Chad muttered as he started blankly at the dark television screen. His idea escaped in words through his mouth.
If this were a cartoon, Taylor's brain would literally turn to goo and she would go extremely insane and start hitting herself on the head with a mallet and flapping her lips with her single index finger while making a noise indicating that she was a dummy. But this was the real world. So instead; her mouth opened a bit, and tried to bite her tongue from telling Chad how incredibly stupid the idea was. But to avoid crushing his spirit, she just looked at him and replied with a simple "Huh?"
"I said, we should go camping! It's a great idea!" Chad said cheerfully, truly believing that it was the best idea.
Taylor on the other hand looked at the facts before she could fully comprehend the idea.
-Its over 100 degrees outside. 100 degree summer weather, a pregnant mother, a three year old girl, a music obsessed woman, and a materialistic bride-to-be, equals a weekend of hell.
-Troy is too nervy when it comes to separation from his wife, Zeke goes crazy without his easy bake set, Ryan doesn't get along with mother nature too well when he's angry.
-Taylor possibly being blamed for agreeing to go on the trip and Chad being a lousy guide and a dictator... IT JUST WOULDN'T WORK OUT!
After shuddering and getting the horrendous images of her friends riding her ass for a possible camping-trip-gone-wrong moved out of her head, she looked at her boyfriend whom was still excited about the plan. Taylor chuckled nervously, wondering how to break it to Chad that it wasn't the best idea.
"Chad... Um... Honey?" Taylor tried to say, after snapping Chad out of his own little world.
"What's up?" he asked with a grin so big, it made it even harder for Taylor to tell him. But she knew she couldn't let him dumb down just for believing he was capable of planning a cool vacation when, clearly, he wasn't.
Taylor tripped on her breath. "Don't take this the wrong way, but.." she paused. Chad frowned, knowing she was bound to crush his dream at some point within the time he mentioned it.
"What?" he responded impatiently. Taylor sighed heavily and looked at Chad, almost as if she was telling him something that was beyond words to speak.
'Why does he have to be so damn sensitive? This would be so much easier to say if he wasn't such an oaf!' Taylor thought bitterly. She broke away from her thought and resumed.
"I just don't think its such a good idea" she got out. Chad bowed his head, feeling broken.
"Why not, Tay? All I want to do is get the gang together just one last time. Is that too much to ask?" he ranted in a whiny voice.
"I'm not saying that getting the gang together is a bad thing. I'm saying that the whole 'camping' idea. Not the best" she said.
"Come on, baby. Just think about it.." he paused, lacing his fingers with hers and moving behind her back, leaning against her. Taylor smiled.
"Us cruising on a raft out in the lake, a nice camp fire, good food. And just doing things fund stuff with our best friends" he said trying to sound convincing. Taylor knew he tried but it still wasn't good enough for her to give in.
"I don't know, Chad" Taylor said softly. Chad's lips found their way to her neck- her 'weak spot', he liked to put it. He kissed her neck until she felt weak in her knees.
"Please?" he begged continuing to kiss her neck. Taylor resisted as much as she could but Chad knew all too well he had reeled her in by then.
"Fine!" Taylor pouted. Chad backed off of her and turned her around to look her in her eyes.
"Really?" he asked making sure that she approved.
"Yes, Chad. Let's take the gang camping with us" she finally gave in. Chad looked so happy. Taylor turned her head for a minute so that Chad couldn't see the look of anguish on her face. She already knew she was going to regret this.
End of Flashback.
Still Troy's point of view.
So there you have it. The sob story of Chad Kennith Danforth and how his dumb ass thought it would be a good idea to take all of us camping with him. I couldn't begin to explain how I truly felt about the idea. I only knew that Chad had lost his mind for even thinking about it. He obviously didn't knew the mayhem it would cause. It was Labor Day weekend and so things were already crazy since people in town were trying to enjoy the last few weeks of Summer. And with my wife being heavily pregnant, whom was supposed to give birth soon, Sharpay and Zeke''s wedding coming up in a week, and Kelsi and Ryan's obligations taking place, it was all at a inconvenient time.
"I don't think so, Chad" Kelsi said timidly but still knowing that she really couldn't take Chad up on the offer.
"Come on, you guys!" Chad exclaimed. His whiny voice tried my last nerve with his bonehead ideas. Why was it so important to him if we all joined him for camping or not? Clearly, he didn't see the things we all had to do that were important to us. My wife looked at me with furrowed brows as she stroked her very large stomach gently. All I could do was sigh and rub her back and keep her calm until we heard Chad out. Camping did seem like a fun idea but the timing was bad.
"I mean, you guys are all doing your own thing, so why can't we just do things together just this one weekend?" he asked, staring at all of our expressions.
"Well, Ryan and I have tons of songs to write for our elementary school's play coming up next month, so we're booked solid" Kelsi said while Ryan nodded agreeing with his girlfriend. Chad frowned and looked at Zeke and Sharpay.
"We definitely can't! Our wedding is coming up next week!" Sharpay said.
"And I still have to prepare recopies for the cooks that are doing the dinner for the reception" Zeke added. Chad's face drooped more. He looked at Gabriella and I, hoping we would at least warm up to it. I looked at my wife occasionally, seeing what she might have thought. I sighed and rubbed my face with my free hand. I didn't know if I should tell him 'yes' or 'no'. If I said yes, I would have been enduring hell from my wife the whole trip. And If I had said no, I would have been dealing with Chad dwelling on this forever and possibly losing my mind and my best friend. I had to think fast. But I couldn't let either words escape my mouth just yet. I wanted to go but then I had to think about the condition Gabriella was in. It would be hard enough for her to camp with her swollen belly and trying to manage our daughter at the same time. I knew she wasn't up to it.
"You know, Chad-" I begun to say before I saw his expression growing sadder as I continued my sentence. How was I supposed to do this? It almost felt like telling a little kid that Santa Clause doesn't exist.
"Don't get me wrong. I know I'm your best friend and I should feel good that you're asking me to do all of these fun things with you but" I paused. He widened his eyes, signaling me to tell him what was really up.
"A lot of us just can't do it right now. I mean, we all have things that we need to take care of by the end of next week" I said finally. Chad looked so disappointed. I felt bad for him. I knew he missed all of us and wanted to spend as much time with us as he could before we went our separate ways again but, at this point it was almost impossible. It was times like this I wished Chad had a more stable life for himself. That way, I wouldn't be sitting here in his living room feeling guilty that I told him 'no'; or feeling obligated to tell him 'yes' because I felt sorry for him. Even though I gave him an explanation, he still didn't look like he was going to give up.
"Guys, just hear me out. Kelsi and Ryan, why don't you two just work on the songs during the trip, and Sharpay and Zeke, you guys plan your wedding once we get to the cabins, and Troy and Gabriella, just make sure to pack extra things just in case Gabby goes into labor. Plus, there's a hospital right down the road from the lake. Please you guys?" he begged having a compromise for each and every one of us. All of us exchanged looks from each other, giving it second thought.
"We're in. And this might be a good opportunity for me to work on my tan before the wedding" Sharpay said as she flipped her hair to her back and smiled.
"And I guess I could work on some recopies for the dinner while I'm out there" Zeke said sounding more enthusiastic as Sharpay planted a kiss on his lips.
"All right. Anyone else wanna take the offer?" Chad said sounding more happy. He looked around for anymore participants.
"Well, I guess Ryan and I could work on songs out there. We might get some inspiration too because the play is mostly about Mother Nature" Kelsi said, thinking it was a good opportunity for her also. Ryan nodded in agreement, although, you could see the words ached him.
"Troy?" I head Chad say my name. I looked up at him with a pained expression on my own face. I scratched the back of my neck and flipped my hair out of my eyes. Great! Now I was the only one left to decide, next to my wife.
Truth be told, I really didn't want to go camping. I really wasn't an outdoorsy kind of person to begin with. The very first time I went camping with Chad, I had came back home with several scars that were, in the beginning, mosquito bites, and I sprained my ankle on a hike. Since then, I hated camping more than anything. It was one thing to sleep outside with your mind playing tricks on you. But to go camping with an brainless buffoon who was the one playing tricks on your mind the first time, a second time is a 'Hell No!'.
"Troy?" I heard my wife's sweet voice say. She smiled at me and stroked my hand with the pad of her thumb. Oh no... I knew what that look meant. She was actually going to take the risk going into labor while camping out at the lake? I think life just got harder for me. I turned to look at Chad whom was still awaiting my answer. That just did it for me. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't find the balls to say 'no' with him staring at me with his stupid looking face, and I couldn't say 'no', knowing my wife was about to say the complete opposite! No! I couldn't do it. But I knew, very deep down, that once this three letter, and single syllable word escaped my mouth, I would regret it from here on out. And I would probably have to kill Chad for it in the future.
"All right, Chad. Yes. We're in too" I sighed. The room cheered lightly. When I saw the looks on everyone's faces, I somehow felt a little more excited to be going camping with my close friends before I put a stop to all nonsense that would have still been in my life before my wife got pregnant with both of our kids. As soon as we were all on the same page and everyone agreed, we all planned to get back home and start packing. We were told we would be leaving this weekend.
"Thanks, man. You won't be sorry. Trust me" Chad said excitedly as he threw his arm around my neck. I laughed nervously.
"I hope I can..." I muttered.
What the hell did I just do? That's always me for 'ya! Troy Bolton, total pushover. A pushover, I tell you! I just hoped that this trip would be worth it. Then again, I knew what I had just agreed to. And usually in the end, the jokes always on me.
A/N: Just warming you guys up for the new story! I know this first chapter was sort of a blow for a 'first', but I'm still trying. Also I want to include more of the characters in this story. I really hope you guys will enjoy this one =]