Ok so I wanted to get started on at least one chapter. Sorry again for it not being the longest, but if memory serves my first story started off slow as well. So that's why it's going to slowly build up. It's gonna leave you with a few different questions...I think. Hey, I'm not a mind reader here and you know it. Besides, I had to type up the next chapter to this cause I didn't know what song to do next for my one shots.
Ok, you can get to the chapter reading now. Once again I do not own HSM.
"I don't know, I think the sign should go up a little more." Troy Bolton said as he rubbed his chin.
Chad Danforth chuckled and shook his head. "Dude, it's not like anyone's gonna use this place right away." Even as he shook his head his incredibly curly brown hair swung back and forth and even more bangs fell in his face.
"Ok so maybe not. But at least when we are ready to use it it'll be ready." Troy replied. "Besides, this place is really something special."
"You're planning something with Gabriella aren't you?" Chad asked.
Troy smiled sheepishly. "Not yet." He admitted. Troy was crazy about Gabriella Montez. They dated exclusively for over two years. They were kind of on and off during college because of how different it was from high school. There was more work to be done and they lived a little further away from each other. Most people didn't even know what was going on with Troy and Gabriella anyway. But the one thing everyone did know was that he was crazy about her.
Troy shook his head, deciding to change the subject. "So, you know that next week is that reunion at East High, right?"
"Dude how could I forget?" Chad asked. "They have to have one of their best graduating classes reunite there before they remodel."
"You don't think they'll change the memorial or anything do you?" Troy wondered.
"Heck no!" Chad gasped. "C'mon, you know they gotta keep that there forever. It's symbolic."
"Yeah." Troy nodded in agreement quietly. "It's like Jason never left high school."
"But he did." Chad replied. "He graduated with us. And he's right in there inspiring future generations in those walls."
That made Troy grin. Leave it to Chad to look on the bright side. He could never see anyone down for long. There always had to be someone to brighten up the mood somehow and Chad was the one. But Troy knew that Chad also felt guilty, thinking it was his fault about what happened that day.
"So you'd be cool with us paying Jay a visit when we get to the school?" Troy assumed.
"No doubt about it." He nodded. "We can reminisce with him or something."
"Like remind him about our big championship game in senior year." Troy grinned. "Back to back city championships. Co-captains, the two of us. Jason always being the clown and goofing off during practice. We always needed that."
"And at the celebratory party afterwards he was dancing like a mad man." Chad chuckled in agreement.
"Oh yeah, victory is now in the hands of the Wildcats! Boo-yeah!" Jason Cross cheered as he literally jumped into Troy's backyard. It was right after the final basketball game of the year and everyone was partying it up at the Bolton household. Jason was happier than any of them. Even if he didn't graduate this year he could still say that he played a part in bringing the East High Wildcats to back-to-back championships. He looked even more excited as Troy and Chad entered the backyard.
"Yo co-cap'ns!" Jason called. "Way to go out there on the court tonight. You guys were on fire!"
"So were you man!" Chad chuckled. "We couldn't have done it without you."
"Really? You look like you could fall on your own just fine." Troy joked, referring to the point in the game where a player on the other team knocked Chad right onto the floor.
"I jumped right back up." Chad said defensively. "Am I right or am I right?" he asked Jason.
"Whatever you say man. Whatever you say." Jason shrugged.
Chad rolled his eyes.
"Hey the important thing is," Troy said as he stepped in between his friends and teammates, "we won the game and we did it together. We stuck it out through the entire game and we did it. We played like a real team and we were there for each other. I was just one of the co-captains coming up with the strategies. But Chad had my back every step of the way and he was the one who made sure we were always ready and never took our eyes off the prize. And Jason, you were always the one just joking around at practice. You made us think that none of it was a big deal at all. But you really came through when we needed you most and you really picked us up when we were at our exhaustion point. We really couldn't do it without you."
Jason grinned. "Anything for my guys." He pounded fists with Troy and Chad. "So now to celebrate, I'm gonna hit the dance floor and party it up all night. Then I'm moving into the library to make sure I'll be up on that podium with you guys come graduation day."
"We'll hold you to that man." Troy smiled.
And with that, the three went their separate ways. But none of them could have looked happier.
"I wonder what he'll think when we tell them where we landed today." Troy said once they snapped out of the flashback.
"He'll probably be thrilled for us." Chad said. "Or at least for you. You're working with the future East High Wildcats, you know. And now we're working on all of this and you're really gonna turn this old place into something Albuquerque can be proud of." He moved his hand to signal the room of the community theater and Troy responded by chuckling.
"What about you?" Troy asked. "You own your own bowling alley. You host kids' parties there and they always love you."
"If only you knew man." Chad shrugged. "Trust me, those kids that celebrate their birthdays there aren't all I've got in my life."
Troy's eyes widened. "Dude, you found another girl?"
"You kidding?" Chad replied. "I could never replaceā¦"
Troy's expression calmed as he nodded. He knew it was a sore spot for Chad to talk about his ex. And everyone knew how crazy Troy always was about Gabriella. Chad was just as much in love with his ex. "I know you never could man." Troy nodded. "So then what are you talking about?"
Chad didn't feel comfortable with telling Troy. It's been like that for a year or so now. Chad never even told anyone. He was glad for the kid and all, but he just never knew how to tell anyone. And e knew that the second they saw him, they'd get the wrong idea.
"Let's just say it's something important ok Troy?" Chad asked. "All I'm gonna say is that I'll tell you when the time is right. And it's not the right time yet."
"I don't get it." Troy shook his head. But he had to admit, he was starting to have his suspicions about Chad. He'd never say anything out loud of course, because then Chad would get all defensive and deny everything. Chad and Troy were best friends. They always have been, they always will be. But even best friends kept secrets from each other.
"And it's best that you don't get it. That you don't know. At least not yet." Chad replied. "Look I know I'm not always the most trusting guy in the world and I know I can be crazy or I don't make the best decisions that I should. But I need you to trust me on this one. It's my life and I need to worry about it. It's not yours man."
"I know." He nodded. Troy could understand that, he really could. But what was so bad about wanting to make sure that his theories about why Chad had a kid were wrong? What was so bad about wanting to take an interest in his friend's life when it seemed like there was nothing else in there? And from what Troy could tell, or at least what it looked like to him, Chad talking to him was the highlight of Chad's day. Chad hadn't been the same energetic guy he was in years. Something about him changed. Troy never knew what. But he wanted to. He wanted to know what about his best friend he was missing. He wanted to know what else could be missing in Chad's life to make him give off a depressing vibe. And Troy wanted to know what Chad was doing when he was on his own. Was he really taking care of a kid or was it just an excuse to be on his own?
Whatever it was, Troy wanted to get to the bottom of this. And there had to be someone who knew. He wasn't sure who, but he had to talk to someone about Chad. Anyone.
Ok so you've met Troy and Chad again, and you know Jason isn't gonna be around. Hey, I didn't exactly kill him off and I didn't want to. Let's jsut say I had a dream about one of the later flashbacks in the story and it ended with a death and about three or four injuries. But you'll find out all about that later on. So that means when the characters mention something about a senior party after graduation, you're not gonna see the flashback for a while. Anyway, now with Troy and Chad out of the way I think you all know who's gonna be reintroduced next....
