Basket Case*

This is the story about how the decisions we make can and will affect how we go through life. Troy and Gabriella go on a camping trip and learn a lot about life. Not only is it clear that nobody is perfect but, Troy and Gabriella learn that there is more to believing someone is. The story also talks about what it's like to be a young adult and the pressures of life normally. I based this idea off a dream I had about a camping trip, so enjoy. This takes place in the spring of senior year, before they go off to college. Both of them have matured since the first and second movies.

Troy walked out of the high school gym carrying his gym bag and his overnight duffel. His friends Chad, and Zeke had challenged him to a small scrimmage game. His father accepted the offer and told them to treat it like practice. The so-called "Game" had been pretty fun, but now Troy smelled terrible. Troy laughed at his friends, Chad and Zeke were fighting over the drinking fountain nearby. Troy stared at the street and zoned out, he was happy today was such a beautiful day.

He ran his hand through his hair, as he waited for Gabriella to pick him up. The two were going to spend the entire weekend together on a camping trip. Troy was incredibly excited. Troy's father wanted his son to practice everyday, rain or shine. Troy promised his father up and down that he would go for a jog every morning and would stretch to keep in shape.

He checked his watch and looked up and down the street once over. Finally he saw Gabriella Montez pull up, in her green explorer. She nestled the car next to the curb, he opened up the door and hopped in, throwing his bag in the back. He leaned across and kissed her, and she smiled at him before returning the car to the street. In her rear view mirror, Chad and Zeke waved. Troy waved back at them. " How was practice?" Gabriella asked turning onto one of the residential streets.

" Pretty good" Troy said, leaning a little out the window. Troy was letting the cool air blow in his face, like a dog. Gabriella loved the way Troy's messy hair blew around and his blue eyes watered up.

"Camping out, It sounds amazing doesn't it" said Troy, after bringing his head back in through the window. Troy wasn't too psyched about going, but wanted to do it for Gabriella. He had decided that it could really help him better understand her, and maybe he'd even have a good time. His masculine thoughts took over as well. Three days with no parents in a small tent, sounded pretty good. Gabby looked over at Troy's worried face. She read his face, and in turn his mind.

"Yea" "no parents, no outside world connections, and lots and lots of wild animals" said Gabriella. Troy made a face. Gabriella laughed at his funny face, but went back to thinking. She hoped he wasn't too freaked out about the whole thing. Gabriella had motives. She really wanted to escape life for a few days and not have to listen to her parents ride her about college, and financial issues, as well as grades.

Gabriella just wanted to get him away from thinking about basketball, and college, and school, and more about them. Troy's father had been really strict on him lately. Troy needed to have a day off. She had convinced her mother to let her go away for three days with Troy.

Gabby pulled up at her own house, and let Troy out. She backed the car up out into the street and pulled into the driveway backwards next to a pile of camping gear. She turned off the car, and got out. She strode around to the other side and began piling camping equipment into the back of her explorer.

"Troy, why don't you go takes a shower before we go?" Gabby started. Having smelt him all the way home, she decided it was best. Troy agreed.

"We may not have an opportunity to shower for a few days up there, and I don't want to be in the same tent for too long when you smell like that" Finished gabby with a smile. A broad grin spread across his face. He hadn't showered after his practice game, because there had not been time.

"Alright, I guess I could use a good shower." Troy responded coolly, Trying to contain the fact that he thought he smelled terrible too. "Upstairs to the right" said Gabby directing Troy as he walked off with his duffel. "Thanks" said Troy throwing a smile at his girlfriend. He stopped in his tracks by the door and turned. "Can I use you're flowery shampoo… I love the way that smells…" Troy asked, half in jest.

"Why not… I'd love to have you smell like me." said Gabriella trying to contain her giggles. Troy smiled broadly and headed into the house. Her shampoo did smell good. He would have to try it.

Gabriella smiled after Troy, hoping that he did in fact use her shampoo. She loved the way it smelled, and that it might be a welcome scent on him. She began to pack her bags in the car, along with the tent and the rods. She packed a small cook stove and her family camping kit with silverware and dishes as well as a fraying pan and small coffeepot. Once she got all of the equipment into the, she pushed the cooler in on top. Her mother was still preparing some things in the kitchen, to take with them.

10 minutes later, once Gabby had finished packing up everything, she decided to go check on Troy. She opened the front door, and walked in closing the door softly behind her. The hallway was lined with portraits of her and a small portrait of her and Troy as leads in the winter musical of last year. She past the photos and quietly walked up the stairs. She could hear her mother making sandwiches in the kitchen, and was careful to avoid conversation.

The bathroom door was open a crack, to let the steam out, and the cool air in. Through this crack in the door, Gabby could just make out a toweled figure. He was singing a piece from one of the songs they had done in the winter musical, Tinsel-Town. Gabby listened quietly and as she watched, he towel dried his gorgeous brown hair in front of the mirror.

Gabby listened for a minute before pressing her hand against the door to make it swing open. At first the door movement went unnoticed, as troy was now mimicking the musical by singing with a shampoo bottle. Gabby giggled hysterically. Troy noticed gabby and wrapped her in a steamy hug. Gabby laughed and struggled playfully.

At this Troy dipped Gabby back and kissed her warmly. Gabby smiled at the thought of her boyfriend wearing nothing but a towel. This made her contemplate other things that she felt might be worrisome if they were in the same tent. After a few moments Troy let her go and finished drying his hair, as gabby watched. She giggled when he tried to spike his wet hair into a faux hawk. Together they wrote their names on the steamy bathroom mirror for fun. Troy was a bundle of laughs; Gabriella knew this weekend was going to be great. Gabby planted a soft kiss on Troy's cheek and walked out of the bathroom.