Hey there! I was hoping to post this final chapter sooner but then a lot of things came up and I wasn't able to do so. I'm busy this whole month with my classes and stuff and this is the only time I could type this so I'm really sorry to those who are actually reading this and waiting for my update.


Kelsi Nielsen stood in front of the Bolton residence contemplating if she made the right decision of coming there. She learned a couple of awful news these past few days and needed to talk to someone about it. She could have consulted her 3 girl friends but her instincts told her to go to Troy.

Not giving it another thought, Kelsi rang the doorbell and waited patiently for the door to be answered. It was Mrs. Bolton who greeted her.

"Good evening Mrs. Bolton. Is Troy around?" she asked the older woman politely.

Mrs. Bolton smiled brilliantly at her and urged her to come in. "Your timing couldn't be better. I think he and Gabriella has a misunderstanding. He went straight to his tree house after arriving from school. I think he needs a good friend to talk to."

"I will, ma'am. " Kelsi replied.

"Thank you dear."

Kelsi nodded before heading to the Bolton's backyard.

"Troy?" she asked out loud as she reached the only tree in the backyard.

"Playmaker? Is that you?" a voice asked from above.

"Yeah. Wanna talk?" she shouted once again.

"Sure! Come up!" he answered.

"I thought you tree house was exclusive for family, boys and girlfriends." She smiled up on him remembering the story Gabriella told her earlier that year.

"You're like my little sister or something so that counts. Just come up!" he demanded.

"Fine." Kelsi went around the tree. "How do I climb this thing?"

Troy descended the tree and helped Kelsi climb it. As soon as they reached the tree house, they settled on one side of the structure which had beautiful view of the neighborhood.

"So, what happened?" Kelsi broke the silence.

"Nothing." He said, his eyes never leaving the view.

"Oh come on Troy! I know something is up and you seemed lost all day. Your mom even noticed it. Did you and Gabriella have a fight?"

"No… But something is wrong and it is about Gabriella."

"What is it?"

"You know that Gabriella is already accepted in Stanford right?"

Kelsi nodded her head and urged Troy to continue.

"Well, apparently there is something called an honor's program where the students get to spend time at campus. "

"Oh yeah, I think I heard Taylor and Gabby talking about that during one lunch. From what I heard its really prestigious and only the best get in. Are you telling me got accepted?"

Troy nodded.

"That's awesome news! So what's the problem?"

"The problem is she's going to have to leave early. She's going to miss the rest of the school year. She's going to miss the musical, prom and even graduation."

"Really? Did she say that? I mean, have the two of you talked about this?"

"No. She has never mentioned this program to me."

Kelsi tilted her head side wards "I don't get it. If she hasn't told you about the program, then how did you find out she was accepted?"

"Sharpay told me."

The composer let out a frustrated sigh. Why does everything bad always lead up to her she thought.

"Well Mr. Bolton, I suggest you talk to Gabriella first before you assume things further. If she did get accepted to the program, then great, you're not going to stop her if she decides to go right?"

"Of course not, I know this is a big thing for her and her future and I don't want to get in the way of that. I just that, I can't believe she's leaving so soon."

"I know, but we all have to part ways sooner or later. She's just going sooner. Besides, even if she does go to Stanford early, she might miss the musical but she could still go to prom and graduation."

"Yeah, I guess so." Troy smiled the first time that evening. "Thanks Kelsi! Once again you have saved me from the pit of endless misery."

"I think I'm rubbing up on you." Kelsi smiled at his words. "And you're much welcome Mr. Bolton. What are friends for right?"

Troy looked at the playwright and smiled "Hey! Speaking of prom, I heard you're going with Ryan. Any truth to that playmaker?"

Kelsi nodded as a response but her facial expression dropped at the same time. This didn't pass without Troy noticing it. "Did I say something wrong?"

She didn't reply.

Troy was worried. For more than 1 year that he had known the composer, he knew that she opted not to talk when something was bothering her especially if the cause of her distress was the topic. "Did something happen between you and Ryan? Because if he hurt you I going to call Chad right now and we're going to his house and beat the crap out of him."

"Please don't do that." She whispered.

"Only if you tell me what happened."

"Okay… it was two days ago when we were rehearsing your number with Gabriella. It was during the break and I went backstage to talk to Ryan about how we could improve the number. Then I saw him talking to Sharpay and I know I shouldn't have listened but I did. I heard him tell her about us going to prom together. Then Sharpay interrupts him and says something on the line of keep your friends close and your enemies closer. After hearing that, I got really confused with the situation and when I'm confused, I panic, so I went to music room and locked myself there."

"Oh… so that's why you suddenly went missing and we were forced to work on lines the rest of the rehearsal. Did you confront Ryan about this?"

"Yeah…"

"What did he say?"

"Well, I asked his why he asked me to prom and he said that Sharpay told him to do so."

Troy's urge to kill Ryan was intensifying. But he kept himself in check, Kelsi already told him not to physically incapacitate the male Evans. "Did he tell you why Sharpay wanted him to ask you to prom?

Kelsi shook her head. "No. Actually, he tried to explain himself after what he told me but I didn't listen to him. I was really hurt with what he said."

Troy bit the side of his cheeks, thinking of the right words to say. "You know Kels, I really don't know Ryan that much. I mean, we only started hanging out after all that drama during the summer. But what I do know about him is that he really likes you, a lot. I know that he wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt you. I really think you should give him a chance to explain himself. Hear him out and then decide if what he's telling you is the truth and if you could forgive him for what he did."

Kelsi smiled up on Troy. "Thanks Troy. I think I'll take your word for it and talk to him tomorrow. "

Troy smiled back. "Good! And you're welcome. It's the least I can do for all those time you were by my side this past year. I don't think I could have survived without you and your guidance."

The two teens looked at each other and simultaneously turned their attention back to the beautiful view before them. The moment was quiet, peaceful, oh-so beautiful… and was ruined by the annoying ring of Kelsi's phone.

"Sorry." She addressed towards Troy before answering her phone. "Hello?... I'm over at Troy's… We were just talking about the musical and other school stuff… Yeah… Okay, I'll be right home."

Kelsi turned back to Troy. "My mom, she wants me to go home."

"Can I give you a ride?" Troy asked helping Kelsi get down from the tree.

"In your truck? No thanks Troy. I would much rather walks than ride that monstrosity." Kelsi responded with a smirk.

Troy made a shocked face. "That hurts, Nielsen! And here I am thinking that you're my friend. I am obviously mistaken." His response was dripping with sarcasm.

"Fine…" Kelsi sigh as she boarded Troy's rusting truck. "I just hope we reach my house before it stops running, again."

"You and me both." Troy replied as he started his truck and started driving towards the direction of her house.


I'm done. Again, I'm really sorry for taking so long. I already finished this more than a month ago and I'm just really busy. This is the last chapter and I will really appreciate it if you tell me what you think. I'll be coming back with my Ryelsi fics next time I post so watch out for that. :)