"You're sure about this?" I asked once I finished packing up my suitcase. My good friend, Troy Bolton is inviting me on yet another whirlwind adventure like he's done in the past. I couldn't blame him for being such a spontaneous guy. He never fails to surprise me. He and I were going on two-month trip. For him, it was all business. "It'll be fun Gabs. Trust me." I remember the last time he told me to trust him and then he decides to stab me in the heart by breaking up with me. Of course, that was seven years ago. Troy and I went to the same high school, East High. I had just moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I didn't like moving all the time. My mom knew that I didn't like it as well. She told me that it'll be fine. What I didn't expect was to end up dating East High's basketball guy. Troy was and still is the hottest guy I have ever laid eyes on. He was eighteen and I was seventeen. Guess I was just lucky to be in the same grade as he was. High school had its glory days. Everyone talked about us in the hallways. Girls would swoon over him, but Troy was mine.
After high school, we parted ways. I went off to Stanford to pursue my degree as a lawyer and he went off to UC, Berkley. As much as we tried to be together during our college years, it just wasn't enough. After pre-law, it was straight to law school. Two years into Stanford, Troy and I decided that it was time to break up for good. It's not like we stopped being friends, but the distance was definitely an issue. Just shortly after our break up, he started to date Sharpay Evans. Eventually he married her, but I was never invited to the wedding. After all, Sharpay and I weren't exactly on the best of terms. Troy earned his degree in business. This two-month trip meant a lot to him. When I asked him about Sharpay, he said that she had plans of her own and wouldn't be able to join him. Did he immediately think of asking me? I had hoped that he thought of asking someone else to join him.
I was unsure about the whole situation. Why? One: I was deciding on going with Troy on this business adventure, and two: I still have feelings for him that never left. These feelings were still there since our Junior year of high school. Now at 24, I still clung on to the small chance that Troy and I can hopefully still be together. There were plenty of available guys, but none I found an interest in. I don't understand why he would ask me, of all people. It's been two years since the break up. Troy is married, and I have some inclination that he's up to no good like always. "You always say that." I told him.
For the seven long years that we have dated, we were inseparable. Basically, we were attached at the hip. Every down fall in our relationship, Troy always found a way to bring it back up. "I have never let you down before." Guess he's right. He's made believe every time that he's telling the truth. I can't remember a situation where he's lied to me. Maybe it's the way he looks at me with those blue eyes of his or maybe it's the way his voice sounds over the phone. It was so deep, but so sexy at the same time. His mood constantly reminds me of the happier days we've spent together that it makes me second guess why we broke up in the first place. Honestly, why did the distance ever become a factor? "I'll see you tomorrow at the airport." We both hang up. I sighed and sat on the bed. I wonder if it's wrong to have feelings for a married guy. I have read and been told otherwise. Should I trust my gut feeling about going on this trip with him? Should I just cancel it altogether? Why should I reopen old wounds? It's never a good idea to do so. I hate feeling like this.
I think about the others I've dated in the past. I can't compare them to Troy. Why can't I let him go? It was easy for me to do so with other guys. Why am I still holding on to a sliver of hope that Troy will call me and say that he's divorcing Sharpay forever? For one moment, I think about running into his arms because I'm glad that he is mine and no one else. He's like no other guy in the world. He's sweet, caring, genuine, and I'm still in love with him. Just how am I going to get through these two months with him. It's going to be interesting for sure.
The next morning, I arrived at the airport. Troy was standing outside. How long had he been standing there waiting for me? He could just wait for me inside. As I approached him, I noticed that he is wearing a dark blue sweater and dark jeans. His sleeves were halfway rolled up his arms. It reminds me of a date he had taken me out on the summer before college. The blue goes well with his eyes. His hair was slicked back. He didn't have to try to impress me at all. "You sleep well last night babe?" He asked me as we both check-in. He used to call me 'babe' all the time when we were together. It gave me butterflies in my stomach, made my knees weak, and made my heart race a hundred times faster. He would say it with an added smile or maybe even a sly smirk. I nodded, but it wasn't true. I couldn't stop thinking about spending two months with Troy. "You could sleep on the plane and rest your head on my shoulder like you always do." He added with a smile.
We check our bags in and proceeded to the gate. The waiting time was the worst with airports. "You seem anxious." He reached over and touched my hand gently, but I pulled away. I stood up and went to walk around. It allowed me to clear my head of any thoughts that were bothering. There was one thought that would never leave my mind for it lingered since the break up. Our first stop was in New York City and ended our trip in Los Angeles. The plane touched down at the John F. Kennedy International airport. We headed over to the baggage claim to pick up our suitcases. After calling a cab and dealt with being stuck in traffic for 20 minutes, we arrived at our hotel. We would be staying in New York for two weeks. It gave us very little time to sightsee, but it was still worth the trip. As we entered our room, I noticed that there was only one bed - a queen sized bed. Apparently we were sharing a bed. I thought as Troy brought in our suitcases. I took out my phone to call my mom that I had safely arrived in New York. Booking a two-month leave as a full-time lawyer was difficult. I wonder how Troy managed to pull the strings with my boss. I figured that he has a way with words to charm them.
My mom didn't know I was with Troy. She was well aware that I would be taking a two-month leave and that was it. She adored Troy and was saddened to hear about the break up. "I can book a separate room." he said. I hung up the phone after talking with my mom. Guess he had seen the look on my face when I saw one bed in the room.
"No, it's fine. It's just... wouldn't Sharpay be jealous?" I asked.
"Sharpay has no clue that I went on this trip with you. She doesn't know that I asked you. I could sleep on the floor, if that's what you want." I shook my head and sat down on the bed. I'm still trying to get over the fact that you're married and I can't stop loving you. His phone rang before I could say a word to him. He stood and stepped into the bathroom. Sharpay must be checking in to see if he arrived in New York. I was still jet lagged from the flight and felt like taking a nap. I opened up my suitcase, only realizing that I had forgotten to pack pajamas. I bit my lip gently and glanced over at Troy's open suitcase. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I put on one of his shirts. I took off my clothes and set them on the chair. I pulled out a white V-neck short-sleeved shirt and put it on. I climbed into bed. I had fallen asleep by the time Troy had come out of the bathroom.
When I awoke from my nap, Troy was lying in bed beside me with his eyes closed and wasn't wearing a shirt. Typical. The covers were covering his bottom half, so that only his chest was exposed leaving me room for imagination. I admired his chest for a brief moment, feeling the temptation to touch him. I didn't want to wake him and decided to take a shower. The warm water ran over my body, across my shoulders and down my back. It felt so good after being on that long plane ride. At least now I can think. My mind was so cluttered, distracted from the events that have happened so far. Lately I've been looking at things negatively. You should think about the positives Gabriella. One positive is that this could be a fun trip. I get to see places I've dreamt of seeing with Troy having to drag me along. This could be one hell of an adventure if I choose to make it that way, and I guess I shall.