Chapter 3:
The next day at work Troy was just getting ready to clock in when Kelsi stopped him and asked him to look at a song she had written for him and Gabriella. "The Star Dazzle Talent Show for Lave Springs is coming up and staff is allowed to participate and I wrote this song for you and Gabriella and I thought you could sing it with her. I already showed her the song and she loved it. I know she would make sure that she had the night off all you have to do is sign up and we can work on your part on your breaks and then at nights with Gabriella. The sign ups are outside Mr. Fulton's office. I know with you and Gabriella singing together you could beat Sharpay she has won every year for the past five years" said Kelsi bouncing with excitement especially at the thought of beating Sharpay. "No…uh no sorry Kelsi but like I told you the other day I'm not singing again my musical career started and ended with the winter musical. I'm just here to work and make money towards college and maybe sneak in a couple rounds of golf if I can. So sorry but no." said Troy looking for a way to escape. "But Gabriella is already working on the song and really loved the song and she was really looking forward to it. Come on Troy, please?" said Kelsi looking at him. "Sorry Kelsi but no I don't know why you would show the song to Gabriella when I already told you a few days ago that I wasn't singing anymore in a musical or otherwise." Said Troy walking toward the kitchen so he could clock in for the day.
What he didn't know was that Ryan was outside of the ballroom where Kelsi had cornered him and had run to Sharpay to let her know that Kelsi had written a song for Troy and Gabriella to sing at the Star Dazzle but Troy had turned her down saying that he wasn't going to sing. Sharpay hadn't been happy to find out that Kelsi had written a song for Troy and Gabriella but she was happy to find out that Troy didn't want to sing with Gabriella he just wanted to earn money for college. What Ryan didn't know is that Sharpay was already making a plan, to get Troy to sing with her in the Star Dazzle Awards and if she could get her hands on it they could sing the song that Kelsi wrote for Troy and Gabriella. She was already forming plans and had to go talk to Mr. Fulton.
It had been a long day at work and he just wanted to go home and relax. When he got home his dad asked him to help him with the truck a new part had arrived and he wanted to get it in so that the truck was drivable. After a few hours of putting the part in the truck was drivable he and his dad had just gone for a test drive around the block. When they got back to the house his dad tossed him the keys. "Here you go, enjoy" "What? Really this is mine?" asked Troy. "What you didn't think I was going to drive this piece of junk did you? No it's yours now you don't have to rely on your mom and me to take you to work and pick you up and you can go to your friend's house when you need too. But Troy this truck is your responsibility, your mom and I will pay the insurance but it is up to you to put gas in it, keep it up to date on inspections, and if it breaks fix it or take it to someone who can fix it." Said the coach. "No worries dad I got this thank you" said Troy. "Go thank your mother it was her idea that we should get you a car." So Troy rushed off to thank his mother.
The next day after Troy had clocked into work Mr. Fulton came looking for him. "Mr. Bolton! You have been requested to be a caddy today. Looks like someone knows of your golf history." He said throwing a different uniform at him. Troy was shocked he knew he could be a caddy for the day but most members had requested other staff that had been there longer and were more well known. He also knew Mr. Fulton had meant his experience of being on the East High Golf Team but he hadn't told anyone at Lava Springs about that. Now he was curious about who he was caddying for.
After changing and heading out onto the green he had his answer there next to a pink golf cart was Sharpay and Ryan. "Hi Troy!" said Sharpay bouncing over to him. "Hi Sharpay, I guess I'm your caddy for the day?" said Troy grinning at her and Ryan. "Oh no Troy not me, your caddying for Daddy." Said Sharpay looking at Ryan. "Oh daddy, and where is daddy?" asked Troy looking around but seeing no one but the three of them. Sharpay just pointed to the sky. It took Troy a minute to realize what he was seeing then he realized what it was, it was a helicopter. When it landed a well-dressed man and women stepped out. Sharpay took his hand and literally dragged him over to meet them when the helicopter was out of the way. "Daddy, Mommy, this is Troy he's going to be your Caddy for the day Daddy." Troy just smiled and shook his hand. "Welcome Troy. Honey where your mother's caddy is?" he asked Sharpay. "I don't know daddy, I requested her usual to Mr. Fulton and he said he would get right on it." Said Sharpay. Then a young man who also worked in the kitchen with Troy came running up out of breath, Troy didn't know his name but he felt bad for the guy he looked like he was going to be sick. "So-sorry im late sir, ma'am Mr. Fulton just told me that you were expecting me and I was across the green with another client and had to wait for my replacement." Said the boy.
As the family headed toward the tee Troy took Mr. Evans bag and followed. It seemed that Mr. Evans would be going first. He noticed that he had a good form and it seemed like he played often and knew what he was doing. He felt bad for the boy who he found out was named Toby who had to caddy for Mrs. Evans, as soon as she stepped up to hit the ball he noticed that everyone had stepped back so he did too then he understood why. She was terrible not that he would ever say that out loud. As the game Mr. Evans had begun to ask Troy for pointers and which club was using. After giving him a great tip Sharpay told her dad about Troy being on the East High Golf Team. After that Troy was allowed to use Mr. Evan's clubs to play a round.
What Troy didn't know what that while he was playing a round Sharpay and her dad were talking? "You know daddy Troy isn't good at just golf he was also on the basketball team where he lead the team to victory in the championship game. Wouldn't he make a great addition to the UOA team?" said Sharpay who knew her dad was on the board at UOA and on in charge of the booster club for the athletics department. "Hmm interesting you know what princess I think you are right he would make a fine addition to my alma mater. I think I'll make a few calls see what I can do." Said Mr. Evans.
After the game was finished Troy went back to work. He was almost through with his shift when Mr. Fulton came into the kitchen looking for him. "Mr. Bolton, you have five minutes to change and come with me. If you are not familiar with this item, it goes around your neck, like a uh dog collar" he said handing him a navy suit jacket, white shirt, navy dress pants and a blue tie. Troy had no idea what was going on but he knew better then to ask questions. After Troy had changed into the new suit Mr. Fulton explained that he was invited to have dinner with the Evans family and a few other club members. Troy was introduced around the table to Peter and Claire. Peter was also on the UOA board. They began to talk about the different vacations the two couples had taken, then the discussion turned to UOA and Troy. "You know Troy I saw your championship game and the game winning shot at the buzzer, a heck of a play" said Peter. "Oh well you know it took a lot of team work if it wasn't for my teammates I wouldn't have had the ball. "Said Troy trying to play down his role in front of Peter and the Evans. But then Sharpay jumped in "Oh you're being entirely too modest Troy. Don't let him fool you, Troy was voted MVP for the entire season." This made Mr. Evans and Peter to smile in his direction.
Mr. Evans then went on to say "You know we have an excellent basketball program at UOA and an excellent scholarship program as well. Yeah you know between the two of us here we pull a little weight over at the school" "Oh wow, that's um nice and all but you don't have to go to all that trouble really." Said Troy, he knew that he wanted to earn his way onto a team and earn his own scholarship. "Oh nonsense Troy, now let's talk golf." Said Mr. Evans. Sharpay jumped in again and said "Oh golf and basketball are just the beginning with Troy Daddy. Have you heard him sing?" "Oh how wonderful Troy could participate here in the talent show." Said Mrs. Evans. "Oh come on Troy give them a sample." Said Sharpay leaning into him. "Ohh I don't know" said Tory "Oh nonsense go on then Troy" said Peter "Oh yes Troy come on I'll even sing with you!" said Sharpay jumping up and grabbing Troy's hand to pull him up and over to the piano.
Sharpay dragged him over to the piano and began to go through Kelsi's music folder. "Sharpay I don't know about this." Said Troy "Oh nonsense Troy, just think of your future, come on we got this its one song. Here Kelsi play this, this should do." Said Sharpay handing Kelsi the piece that she had written for Troy and Gabriella. "Oh this piece isn't for yo—" started Kelsi but Sharpay interrupted her and said "Play." And glared at her. So Kelsi began to play while Sharpay grabbed the other copy to share between herself and Troy and then began to sing. (Sharpay sang at the slow rate not the fast rate like she did in the movie instead she began to sing like Gabriella did)
Sharpay: Na na na na Na na na na na, yeah
You are the music in me
You know the words "once upon a time"
Make you listen, there's a reason
When you dream there's a chance you'll find
A little laugher, or happy ever after
Troy and Sharpay: You're a harmony to the melody
That's echoing inside my head
Sharpay: A single voice
Troy: Single voice
Sharpay: Above the noise
Both: And like a common thread
Troy: Hmm, you're pulling me
Sharpay: When I hear my favorite song
I know that we belong
Troy: Oh, you are the music in me
Yeah, it's living in all of us
Sharpay: And it's brought us here because
Both: Because you are the music in me
Na na na na (oh) Na na na na (yeah yeah yeah) Na na na na
You are the music in me
Sharpay: It's like I knew you before we met (before we met)
Can't explain it (uh-huh)
There's no name for it (no name for it)
Both: I sang you words I've never said
Troy: And it was easy (so easy)
Because you see the real me (I see)
Both: As I am you understand (us)
And that's more than I've ever known
Sharpay: To hear your voice
Troy: Hear your voice
Sharpay: Above the noise (oh)
Both: And I know that I'm alone
Sharpay: Oh, you're singing to me
Troy: Ooh, yeah
Both: When I hear my favorite song
I know that we belong (yeah, oh)
You are the music in me
It's living in all of us
And it's brought us here because
Because you are the music in me
Together we're gonna sing, yeah
We got the power to say what we feel (what we feel)
Troy: Connected and real
Sharpay: Can't keep it all inside, oh yeah
Troy: Ooh, yeah
Na na na na (oh yeah) Na na na na (yeah yeah yeah) Na na na na
You are the music in me
Na na na na (oh yeah) Na na na na (yeah yeah yeah) Na na na na
You are the music in me
All: When I hear my favorite song (favorite song)
I know that we belong (we belong)
Oh, you are the music in me
Troy: Yeah
Both: It's living in all of us
It's brought us here because (here because)
You are the music in me
Na na na na (oh yeah) Na na na na (yeah yeah yeah) Na na na na
You are the music in me
Troy: Yeah (whoo)
Troy and Sharpay had some how ended up dancing around the piano as they were singing. Troy hadn't even really realized that he was doing it, it was just he was really getting into the song and even though he wouldn't admit it out loud it was kind of nice to sing with Sharpay when she wasn't acting like a diva. He also wondered if this was what it was like to sing with Sharpay all the time. After they finished all of the Evans, Peter and Claire stood up and started clapping along with a few other guests that had still been in the dining room. Sharpay took a bow and dragged Troy back to the table where everyone complemented them on their performance. "Now for some dessert." Said Mr. Evans as he waved a waiter down to come to the table.
Later that night when he got home he told his parents about the dinner. His dad was excited about the UOA connection and said to take whatever opportunity that came his way scholarships don't come every day. After his dad had left the room to fix more popcorn and grab a new drink his mom looked at him. "Something seems different with you." She said looking at him critically. Troy just looked at her and knew that he was giving her a confused look. "I think I know what it is. Troy your happy. How did you feel having Mr. Evans and that Peter man say how great you were in not just basketball and golf but in singing too? How did you feel singing with Sharpay? I noticed you made it seem like it was no big deal but I know you and I know that you loved doing the musical, and even though your dad doesn't like to admit it we both know that you loved being on the stage and the stage loved having you on it." Said his mom. Troy was shocked that his mom knew him that well. "I loved it. It was nice to hear someone that wasn't you or dad saying how good I was and it was nice just to sing but with no auditions hanging over my head or Gabriella saying that we had to sing that the school was counting on us to change the status quo or the guys laughing at me for liking to sing. It was nice just to sing a song with no worries other than I need to impress these people. I uh also really liked singing with Sharpay and I don't know what that means." Said Troy putting his head back on the back of the couch.
"Troy you know I like Gabriella but its ok to like singing with Sharpay. Now I haven't seen Sharpay since you were both kids but I remember her as a nice girl? It's ok if you don't want to be with Gabriella anymore. It's ok if you want to be with Sharpay now. It's ok you are young and in High School it's ok to change your mind." Said his mom reaching over and running a hand through his hair like she used to when he was a little kid. "I don't know what I want anymore. I mean Gabriella is nice and all but I don't know lately she has been whiney and clingy and just I don't know. But tonight singing with Sharpay was nice and it was nice spending the day with her and her parents even if I was just the caddy but they treated me like I was part of the family. I just don't know anymore." Said Troy. His mom just looked at him "Maybe you need to take a break from all girls and just focus on yourself and what you want and then when you figure out what you want you can go for it." "Yeah maybe…well I'm off to bed it's been a long day and I'm exhausted." Said Troy getting up and heading towards his room.
His parents stayed up later and had a discussion about their son. "I like the Evans." Said her husband "So do I, I think Troy does too." Said Mrs. Bolton. "What is going on with him and Gabriella though? I tried to get a little out of him the other night when we were working on the truck but I didn't get much on that front. I did find out that the reason the boys haven't been around a lot lately is because Chad is upset that Troy got a summer job and he didn't and the guys have been playing at Chad's house." Said Mr. Bolton. "I didn't know about Chad but that makes sense why they haven't been around. I found out that Troy and Gabriella are rocky right now and Troy doesn't know what he wants. I think he is leaning on not wanting Gabriella. I think a Sharpay Evans plays into some of this. Did you notice the look he got on his face when he talked about her tonight?" she asked her husband. "I did it's a look I don't think I've seen on his face unless he's talking about basketball. Good for him if he wants to play the field. I know I have never been the biggest fan of Gabriella's she was nice and all but something just didn't feel right with her like Troy wasn't as happy as he could be. " Said Mr. Bolton. They ended the discussion there and went to bed.