Okay, yall, we're getting closer to the moment everyone's waiting for! In the last chapter, Ryan, Taylor, Chad, and Kelsi all met to get the details of their plan ironed out. Now we're about to see how that plan gets put into action...
Chapter 7
The next afternoon just after lunch, Taylor showed up for work lugging around a garment bag flung over her arm and a duffel bag over her shoulder. Being Mr. Fulton's "right hand man" meant that she would not get the chance to go home and change before the talent show unlike her friends, so therefore she had to bring her dress for the evening and all the required equipment that she would need for getting ready.
She and Chad had gone out for pizza the previous night when they got off work. Ryan had to keep up the pretense of performing with Sharpay and Kelsi had to be there as the accompanist, so the two of them joined their friends at the nearby Starbucks for coffee after rehearsals. The hot topic of the evening was "Operation Rejoin Troyella" as it had became dubbed by Chad and the quartet soon had all the details ironed out. It was agreed that when Troy came and apologized to the group- which they assumed he would be doing soon, given his recent pattern- Ryan and Kelsi would somehow get him to learn "Everyday"- the song that the whole group of Wildcats had been learning over the past couple of weeks- and Taylor had been put in charge of getting Gabriella to the country club. Having this task meant that she had to come up with an excuse to give Mr. Fulton so she could leave for the hour it would take to get to Gabriella's house, kidnap her best friend, and still be back in time.
She spent the afternoon organizing the last minute details and helping Mrs. Evans oversee the decorating committee to make sure everything was perfect. Finally, Taylor took advantage of Mrs. Evans being engrossed in a conversation with another patron to sneak a peek at her watch. Seeing that she now had exactly thirty minutes to change her clothes and be ready for "Operation Rejoin Troyella" to get underway, she waited patiently until Mrs. Evans and the other lady to finished their conversation.
"Taylor, thank you for being patient. Shall we continue?" she asked. Without waiting for a response, Mrs. Evans began to walk away, causing Taylor to call out to her.
"Um, actually, Mrs. Evans?" She waited until Sharpay and Ryan's mother turned back to face her before continuing.
"Yes?"
"Well, um, it's just that I have to report back to Mr. Fulton for my assignments for the evening in half an hour and I still have to change clothes and get ready. May I be excused to do so?"
"Oh, yes, absolutely. Please, go on and tell Thomas I'd like to see him when he gets a moment."
"I will, yes ma'am." Taylor waited until Mrs. Evans had turned back around and walked off before she allowed the grin that she'd been holding back to spread across her face. She quickly turned and ran back in the direction of the kitchen finding Chad immediately.
"Chad!" she called out to get his attention.
"There you are. I've been looking for you."
"Yeah, I've been busy with Mrs. Evans. You know, she's really a very nice person. It's almost hard to imagine that Sharpay came from her!"
"What time is it?" he asked, reaching to grab her wrist in his hand, looking at her watch.
"It's 4:00, which means that we have exactly thirty minutes before Troy is supposed to be here for his shift."
"And once he's here and grovels like a little girl-"
"Watch it," she playfully reprimanded her boyfriend.
"Sorry. Once he's here and apologizes-" He paused waiting for acceptance from Taylor.
"Better," she told him with a nod of her head.
"So once he gets here and apologizes to everyone for being a jackass these past couple of weeks, you will then make yourself scarce to get Gabs, right?"
"Yeah, I've got my excuse for Mr. Fulton all worked out. That will give me exactly one hour to get from here to the East side of town to Gabriella's house, kidnap her, and get the two of us back here. Oh, don't let me forget to tell Mr. Fulton that Mrs. Evans wanted to see him."
"And while you're gone, Ryan and Kelsi will take care of Troy, right?"
"Yeah. Hey, could you ask Zeke if he can make me a sandwich real quick? I've got to get changed because I now have-" she paused, checking her watch once more- "fifteen minutes before I have to check in with Mr. Fulton."
"Yeah, I'll ask him."
"Thank you," she said as she offered Chad her cheek as he leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss before she rushed into the female locker room.
"Yo, Zeke!" he called out to his team mate, walking further into the kitchen. "Taylor wants a sandwich."
After she changed into her black and white dress for the evening, Taylor set out to find Mr. Fulton, finally locating him at the reception desk in the lobby.
"Mr. Fulton!"
"Miss McKessie, are you ready for this evening?"
"Yes, sir, but you'll never believe what I did! I can't even believe it! I'm never this careless!" she greeted her boss, slightly out of breath.
"What happened, Taylor?"
"I left my clipboard at home, Sir. It's only about a half hour drive one way, and if I rush-"
"Miss McKessie, don't rush. I'd rather have you safe with your clipboard than risk your safety. Please go it and find me when you get back."
"Yes, sir. Thank you," she told him, as she turned and started to run in the direction of her car, before turning back around. "Oh, Mr. Fulton?"
"Yes?" he asked, turning back around to face his young assistant.
"Mrs. Evans asked me earlier to ask you to find her when you get a chance."
"Thank you. And be careful!"
"Yes, sir." She continued on her journey to the parking lot and for the first time that evening, felt that everything would work out after all. If only she could convince Gabriella to come back with her…
At exactly 4:28, Troy finally emerged from the men's locker room through the door that led into the kitchen. He took a deep breath and turned around to face everyone watching him carefully. He slowly approached the group, unsure of how he would be accepted.
"Guys," he started slowly.
"Bolton," Chad said. It didn't go unnoticed by Troy that the iciness which had been present in Chad's voice the past week and a half was now gone. "We heard about what went down between you and Sharpay."
"I'm more concerned about what went down between us," he told Chad. "I was a jerk."
"Yeah, you were," Chad told him, not even trying to hide the fact that the tension was still present between the two of them, even if just for a moment.
"Hey, man, brothers fight, right?"
"And they're still brothers," Chad told him. The two young men who had known each other since they were three years old gave each other a manly hug, conscious of the fact that the rest of the Wildcats were watching them. They were all taking their cues from Chad about how to react to Troy.
"Guys, I messed up your show and I'm sorry."
"Yeah, because show business is our entire lives, right?" Zeke managed to joke, as the others surrounding him chuckled.
"And Ryan, I know how hard you must have worked on this show. Making these Wildcats look good couldn't have been easy, so I apologize."
"Hey, the truth is, we've all had a lot of fun. Well, at least I have," Ryan told him, hoping to ease his way into 'Operation Rejoin Troyella'.
"Hey, you gotta see this dude play baseball!" Chad told him.
"I'm looking forward to it," Troy responded. It was at that moment that the Wildcats knew that everything would be okay. As Ryan stepped closer to Troy, everyone in the group held their breaths.
"Troy, listen, all these people out there, I don't really want to see my sister crash and burn. At least, I don't think I do…" He let his voice trail off as those surrounding him let out another chuckle. "I really think you should sing with her."
Troy took in a deep breath, contemplating what Ryan was telling him, while the rest of the group held their breaths, hoping Troy would agree to sing after all. The plan was contingent on two factors with this being one of them. If he would be in agreement with Ryan's train of thought, then all they would have to worry about would be if Gabriella would return with Taylor or not.
As Taylor pulled up in front of Gabriella's house exactly thirty-three minutes later, she said a quick silent prayer that her part of the part of the plan she was solely responsible for would work. She leaned over and picked up her clipboard that had been sitting in her car all day from the passenger seat and moved it into the backseat to make room for Gabriella. She turned off the ignition, got out of the car, made her way to the front door, and rang the doorbell. The possibility that Gabriella would not come back with her didn't even cross her mind. With the way this was to play out, Gabriella was certain to come back to Lava Springs. As Maria Montez opened the door, Taylor pushed past her and started to run up the stairs.
"Hi, Ms. Montez. Sorry I'm not stopping to talk. I'm on a mission."
"Hi, Taylor. It's okay. Are you here to pick up Gabi and give her a ride to the talent show?"
Hearing those words come from her friend's mom's mouth, Taylor stopped on her journey. "Wait, Ms. Montez, what do you mean?"
"I was hoping that something had happened to cause Gabi to want to go to the talent show. She came to me yesterday and asked me to take her shopping for a dress to wear tonight, but I was beginning to think that she wouldn't be going. Was she waiting on you to pick her up?"
"Um, no ma'am. Actually, she doesn't know I'm here. It's kind of a surprise for her."
"Well, go on up. She was reading a little bit ago, but I'm sure she would like an evening out."
"Thanks, Ms. Montez."
"You're welcome, Taylor. Just do whatever it takes to make this work." Taylor paused again on the steps and turned around just in time to catch the knowing look that Maria had on her face. Taylor gave a small smile and completed her journey up the stairs and down the hall to Gabriella's room. She opened the door and let herself in without knocking. At first she didn't see Gabriella, but spotted her sitting on her balcony with her worn copy of Wuthering Heights in her hands. She came in and leaned against the doorframe of the French doors and opened her mouth to speak, alerting her friend of her presence.
"Where's the dress?"
Gabriella turned around in her seat and looked at Taylor. "What dress?" she asked.
"The dress you asked your mom to buy for the talent show," she told her as she turned to go back into the room and walked over to Gabriella's closet. As she opened the door, she immediately saw a white dress with a blue sash across the waist. Not only was it a dress that Taylor had never seen in her friend's wardrobe, but it also still had the price tag on it.
"Bingo," Taylor said as she reached in and pulled the dress out. "What shoes are you planning on wearing with it?"
"My white wedges," she said softly. "Why? Taylor, what's going on?"
"You're coming with me."
"Taylor, I don't know," Gabriella said, slowly shaking her head.
Taylor turned around to look Gabriella in the face for the first time since she'd barged into her friend's room. "Why did you get a new dress for tonight?"
"What do you mean?" Gabriella carefully questioned.
"You weren't planning on going to the talent show that last time we talked, so why the change of heart?"
"Taylor, you're not an attorney yet, so why do I feel like I'm on the witness stand being cross-examined?"
"Gabriella, there's only one reason why you would have gotten a new dress for the talent show. You were planning on coming tonight weren't you?"
"Well, yeah I was, but-"
"But what?" Taylor asked, interrupting.
Gabriella rolled her eyes before continuing. "But I can't. I mean, I want to see him and talk to him and all, but I just can't."
"Look, the way I see it, you have two options. One- you can stay here all night by yourself, moping and thinking about where you could be and what you could be doing and who you could be doing it with. Or two- you can come with me and take a chance." Taylor held the dress up and looked at Gabriella. The conflict was evident on her face as she thought hard to make up her mind. Finally, she spoke.
"Taylor, what if-"
"Don't think, just act." Gabriella lifted her eyes from the dress and looked at her friend. "Look, Gabriella, I just have one question for you. Hopefully this will help you decide," Taylor thrust the dress into Gabriella's hands and moved over to Gabriella's jewelry box and opened it, searching until she found the object she was looking for. When she appeared triumphant, she turned back around to face Gabriella once again. "Is he worth it?" she asked, holding up the 'T' necklace, and watching Gabriella's reaction.
While Gabriella thought about the options that Taylor had shared with her just a moment ago, she gently bit her lower lip and slowly nodded her head. She lowered her chin and looked at the floor with a single tear making its way down her cheek. Taylor put the necklace down on the dresser beside her and walked across the room to stand in front of her. She hooked a finger under Gabriella's chin and lifted it so she could look her in the eyes.
"Girl, listen. There's so much that I need fill you in on that has happened over the past two or three days. But, we only have about exactly twenty- five minutes to get back to Lava Springs. I know you want to come, so we need to go now." Gabriella instantly sprang to life and grabbed the dress out of Taylor's hands, moving into the bathroom to quickly change. Taylor then took it upon herself to grab her make up bag. The bathroom door opened and Gabriella emerged no more than two minutes later, wearing the white sleeveless dress and busily putting her hair in a stylish yet messy looking up do, holding it in place with a clip.
"I'm ready," she said, her voice shaking just a tiny bit. As the girls started to walk out of Gabriella's bedroom, she stopped. "Tay, wait." Gabriella turned back around and ran back into her room, reappearing back in the hallway in front of her friend wearing the 'T' necklace for the first time in front of other people since that fateful night when she gave it back to Troy.
The two girls walked back out to Taylor's car, calling out good byes to Maria on their way, and began the half hour drive back to Lava Springs. Taylor spent the drive back to the country club filling Gabriella in on all of the happenings of the past few days.
"So he quit his job?" she asked in disbelief.
"Not only did he quit, but he also asked Mr. Fulton for his kitchen job back." The girls sat in silence- Gabriella allowing this new bit of information to sink in before she asked a question that had been running wild in her mind ever since she got that letter from Troy on her face book account.
"What about Sharpay?"
"Oh, that's the best part!" Taylor said excitedly. "I can't believe I almost forgot about that part! Kelsi overheard him totally telling her off yesterday! He came and apologized to Chad and everyone. I'm telling you, something really hit him and whatever it was, it hit him hard! He's back, girl, I'm telling you." The rest of the drive was made in silence, with Gabriella anxious about what would be waiting for her at the country club when they arrived.
Never having been the type of person to purposefully make someone look bad- especially when they were counting on him- Troy finally made the decision to sing with Sharpay. He had promised her he would do so, after all, and he always tried to keep his promises. He grudgingly approached her dressing area back stage, not certain of that kind of reception he would receive. Troy stood off the side partially hidden by the blue curtain and observed as she had a personal battle with herself.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the… Oh, forget it!"
"How's your show going?" he said, finally revealing himself to her. Sharpay jumped in her seat, startled by the new voice and turned in her chair to face Troy.
"How's it going? Are you kidding me? My show makes the captain of the Titanic look like he hit the jackpot!"
"I'll sing with you, Sharpay," he finally told her. When she responded with a shocked look on her face, he continued. "I promised, and I always keep my promises. What was the first thing you said to me when I started working here?"
"Bring me more iced tea?" she questioned with authority.
Troy shook his head. "Think harder. We're…" he prompted.
"All in this together," she said. Why do I have the feeling that I'm about to get myself into something? she thought.
"Exactly," Troy told her.
"Well, we are, so let's get out there and knock them dead, Troy Bolton!" She threw off the robe she was wearing over her costume and tossed it over the chair she was just sitting in. Troy couldn't help but notice the sudden excitement that took over her face.
"I do the show if the Wildcats do the show," he told her.
Sharpay just looked at him incredulously and told him "I just wish you were doing this for me. You're a good guy, Troy Bolton. Actually, right now, I think I like you better than I like myself." Sharpay shocked herself with her previous statement. "Did I just say that?" Shaking her head to clear it of all thoughts of her act of momentary selflessness, she jumped back into action as the old Sharpay.
"Girls! Places!"
Little did Sharpay and Troy realize that a third pair of ears had been listening to their conversation. Kelsi immediately turned and ran back to the kitchen, getting to her destination just seconds before Troy.
"Everyone, Ryan, the show's on!" she excitedly announced.
"Great, Kels! Where's the music?" Ryan asked. When Kelsi flung the sheets into his hand, he continued. "Where's Troy?" Looking around, he saw Troy come in just feet behind Kelsi.
"Hey, guys, I talked to Sharpay. Everything's cool," Troy told them, ignoring the excited, knowing looks that everyone was sharing.
"Hey, Troy, speaking of my sister, she wants you to learn a new song," he told Troy, hoping he would go along with the rest of the plan. So far, so good, but the group was not in the clear yet. Troy took a look at the sheet of music that Ryan had just handed him with a look of panic written across his face.
"'Everyday'. I can't learn a new song! I've only got a few minutes!" he exclaimed.
"Kelsi will help you with it," Ryan told him, pushing him in the direction of the music room with Kelsi following.
After quickly running through 'Everyday' two times, Troy found himself on the verge of doing something he'd never done in his life: quit.
"Kelsi, I can't do this!" he said exasperated.
"Sure you can," she reassured him.
"No, I can't," he said adamantly. "I don't know why I ever thought I could," he said shrugging his shoulders. "Who am I kidding? Without Gabriella here, singing doesn't matter anyway." He lowered his head to study the floor and was about to walk away when Kelsi caught his attention.
"Troy Bolton! Don't you dare give up!" Kelsi banged on the keys in complete discord trying to get his attention, forcing him to snap his head back up and look at her again. "I'm ready when you are. Let me know what you really want," she instructed him, crossing her arms over her chest adamantly.
"I want Gabriella back," he admitted, almost scared by the look of the petite musician in front of him.
"Then stand here, quit complaining, and learn the damn song!" she demanded as she began to play the intro once more.
When Troy felt comfortable enough with the song, Kelsi led him back to the performance area, signaling to Ryan that they were ready who then in turn told Mr. Fulton that he could continue. Troy took the spare minute before he was introduced to find Sharpay, who he wasn't surprised to find in her dressing area still.
"Hey, why'd you switch songs?"
"Switch songs? What are you talking about?" she asked him, confused.
"Yeah, Ryan said…" Troy allowed his voice to trail off as he began to understand what was going on.
"Bolton!" Mr. Fulton called, pulling him out on stage, ignoring the surprised look on Sharpay's face.
"But I didn't learn a new song!" she called behind them.
"Exactly," she heard whispered in her ear. Sharpay turned to see her brother smirking at her. She gasped as he walked away.
Troy reluctantly walked out on the stage after being introduced by Mr. Fulton and waited on Kelsi to play the introduction to the song that he'd known for a little under ten minutes, unaware of the fact that the one person he wanted to be there more than anything was in fact standing in the middle of a crowd behind all of the table that had been set up for the evening.
Seeing Troy walk out on the stage, Gabriella felt a mixture of emotions inside her. Her heart stopped and she was taken over with nerves, but she also wanted more than anything to make her presence known and be up on that stage with him once again. Turning to Chad, she quickly sought the reassurance she needed.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"The question is are you sure about this?" he asked in what he hoped was an encouraging way.
As they heard Troy begin the first lines of the song, she gave Chad a small smile and took a deep breath, ready for what she hoped would lead to a reconciliation.
Once in a lifetime means there's no second chance.
So I believe that you and me should grab it while we can.
