Chapter 52

Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or any of its characters.

Chad came over about two and he and Troy headed out back to play one-on-one.

"Your Gram and Gramps both asleep?" Troy asked stealing the ball.

"Finally" Chad sighed. "Mom still didn't want me to leave. I had to promise to come home as soon as they wake up" Chad groaned.

Troy laughed as he scored a three pointer "maybe you should put a sleeping aid in their tea" he joked.

"Yeah laugh. They spent half of lunch wanting to know why I hadn't invited Taylor to lunch with us and the other half quizzing me about my grades and comparing them to cousin Teresa's straight A average. I told them I had a basketball scholarship but they didn't care about that" Chad complained.

"Have you spoken with Taylor?" Troy asked shooting again.

"Not since I saw you yesterday. Did she and Gabs sort things out?" Chad asked curiously.

"They did, Taylor even apologised for the way she'd been treating me" Troy said. "But she didn't tell Gabriella that you'd broken up though" Troy added concernedly.

Chad stopped and stared giving up the ball again in his surprise. "I don't know why not. She was pretty clear that we wouldn't be getting back together" Chad sighed.

"Maybe they were too busy talking about other stuff. Taylor's really stressing out over college" Troy said.

"Yeah it's funny. I would have thought college would really be her thing" Chad replied stealing the ball and scoring.

"Word" Troy agreed, "How are you doing with the break up?" He asked.

Chad stopped and looked at his friend in surprise. "Gabs put you up to asking Hoops?" Chad queried smiling wryly.

"No. I mean she was concerned but so am I" Troy said seriously.

"I'm doing okay. I don't want to get back together. It just feels odd after all this time you know, to not have her as an important part of everyday life. To be able to make decisions myself without consulting her and I seem to have all this empty time to fill. I didn't think we spent that much time together" Chad reassured his friend.

"Yeah it must be. It's strange enough not having Gabriella around and we still talk a couple of times most days" Troy agreed.

"How are you coping with her being away?" Chad asked.

Troy shrugged "I'm still having trouble sleeping but other than that I'm doing okay. It helps that I'm so busy with rehearsals though Sharpay's driving me nuts" he complained.

"Yeah I don't know how Zeke puts up with her" Chad agreed.

"He has the patience of a saint and he's totally infatuated" Troy said dryly.

"Yeah. I don't think they're planning on trying the long distance thing though. Zeke hasn't said much but I think he's kind of looking forward to a less high maintenance relationship next time" Chad said.

"Is anyone going to be together next year? And why don't I hear these things?" Troy asked.

"Everyone knows you and Gabster are forever. You're so sure that she's everything you want. I guess they're more likely to tell me about their doubts about making a long term relationship work and whether it's worth the effort because they know that I'm having those doubts too" Chad said insightfully.

"I guess that makes sense" Troy agreed. "So is anyone planning on trying to stay together?" he asked.

"We'll I can't speak for Ryan and Kelsi but none of the rest of the gang are" Chad replied.

"Ryan and Kelsi? I know they went to prom together but I didn't think they were dating?" Troy said surprised.

"They sang a really hot duet at karaoke and were making out at the after-party after you left" Chad explained.

"They were both hitting the punch pretty hard when we were there" Troy recalled. "Are you sure it wasn't a one night thing?" he asked concerned.

Chad shrugged "I guess we'll find out tomorrow" he said grinning. "I wonder who else got together."

"You'd know more than I would. You were the one walking around trying to catch people making out. Did you get anything good?" Troy asked.

"A couple of shots that will probably end relationships if they didn't break up after the prom" Chad replied smirking but refusing to give details. "And something that should keep Lianna off my back when she finds out I'm single."

Troy laughed "it must be good. Everyone already knows what a whore she is" he said questioningly knowing that if Chad was going to use it for blackmail he wouldn't show anybody.

"Believe me it's gold" Chad said smiling.

"We'll I might ask you to use it on my behalf as well if it's as good as you say" Troy said fishing for more information.

"It would work but I don't think you'll need it. She was only after you to take her to prom because it would increase her chance of being voted queen" Chad said.

"God I hope so or I'm going to say or do something she will regret" Troy replied.

Chad laughed "isn't it supposed to be something you'll regret?"

"It won't be me who regrets telling everyone that she's the biggest slut I've ever met and recommending that anyone stupid enough to have fucked her should be screened for STDs. The only way I'll regret it is if she tries to hit me" Troy replied.

"You wouldn't let her hit you?" Chad asked surprised.

"No but I'd probably end up in detention for hurting her" Troy said tiredly.

They were interrupted by Chad's phone. "Hey it's Chad" he answered it smiling.

"Hi Chad your Gran's awake" his mother said.

"Oh Moooom really" Chad whined.

"Chad you promised" Mrs Danforth said firmly.

"Okay Mom I'll be there soon"

"Chad" his mother warned.

"I'm serious I'm on my way" he said sighing as he disconnected the call. "I've got to go" he told his friend.

"I'll call you tonight" Troy said watching him go.

Gabriella breathed a sigh of relief when she finally arrived at her dorm. It wasn't that either plane had been delayed but she'd been seated next to a pair of fighting five and six year olds the first flight and a twenty-something guy who'd spent the entire flight trying to hit on her. Then to cap it off she'd made the mistake of trying to catch the bus rather than taking a taxi. She threw herself on her bed and dialled Troy's number almost hoping he wouldn't answer.

"Hey beautiful how was your trip?" Troy asked cheerfully.

"Horrible" Gabriella said tiredly.

"You sound exhausted" Troy said sympathetically. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah just tired. It was a really tedious trip" Gabriella said. "I'm going to lie down and try to nap before the others get back."

"I'll let you go then. Call me later?" Troy said.

"Thanks Troy I love you" Gabriella replied smiling at his thoughtfulness.

"I love you too Gabriella, sleep well" Troy said ending the call.

"Gabriella's back at the dorm" Troy told his mother.

"Is she okay? I've never heard the two of you not wanting to talk" Lucille asked concerned.

"She wants to try to nap while it's quiet. The others will be back soon" Troy explained.

Lucille smiled "so now you know she's safe do you have plans for the rest of the day?"

"No, Chad's busy with his grandparents and my homework's all done. Did you want some help with something?" Troy asked.

"I've been meaning to try and sort out the attic" his mother replied hopefully.

"Sure, are we looking for anything in particular?" Troy said good naturedly.

"Not really. I just want to have some idea of what's up there before I start planning to decorate your apartment". Lucille explained. "There's quite a few things from your grandparents house that we've never had a use for before."

Troy and Lucille spent a couple of hours sorting boxes finding a complete set of kitchen utensils and appliances though the electrical goods were quite old. "I don't know how many of these would still be safe to use" Lucille said "but I could probably take them down to the collectables shop and see if any of them are worth anything."

Troy laughed "who'd pay good money for this old stuff it's not old enough to be antique?" he asked.

"No but 60's vintage things are starting to become popular with some collectors" Lucille said. "I can't see the attraction myself."

Troy grinned "no I think being on the third floor we are going to want stuff we know won't cause a fire" he agreed.

"Definitely, but I think between this and the presents you got for Christmas we've got the kitchen sorted except for a refrigerator and you can have the spare one in the garage" Lucille said.

"But you use it all the time" Troy protested.

"We'll manage, I won't need as much food or sports drinks once you're not home" Lucille reminded him. "Can you put the appliances in the trunk of my car please?" she asked to end the argument.

"Sure thing" Troy said departing with the first of the boxes.

It took several trips and when he got back Lucille was photographing the furniture.

"What're you doing? Are you going to try to sell some of this stuff too?" Troy asked idly.

"No Troy they're not mine to sell. A lot of these pieces are yours from my mother and father and Jack's grandparents. I was photographing them so I could include them in the designs I come up with to show Gabriella for your apartment. Of course you don't have to take them if you don't like them" Lucille explained.

"They're beautiful. I'd be afraid they'd get damaged in the back of my truck though" Troy said worriedly.

"This wouldn't all fit in your truck" Lucille chuckled. "We'll borrow a U-haul van to move you and Gabriella."

Troy grinned "that's not how they do it in the movies" he said.

"Most college students move into fully furnished dorms not an unfurnished apartment" Lucille reminded him.

Troy laughed "I guess you're right" he said

It was dinner time before Gabriella rang back and Troy was starting to feel concerned.

"Hey did you have a good sleep?" Troy asked.

"Yes I didn't realise how tired I was. I feel much better" Gabriella replied.

"That's good. Is everyone else back yet?" Troy asked smiling with relief that his wife was okay.

"Yeah we're cooking dinner" Gabriella replied.

"All four of you in that tiny kitchen?" Troy asked amused.

Gabriella laughed "No I'm taking a break to call you and Sophia is cutting up the salad vegetables on the coffee table"

Troy laughed as well. "I'm sitting at the table. We'd just finished eating when you called."

"Say hello to Jack and Lucille for me" Gabriella said smiling.

Troy looked up "Gabriella says hello" he told his parents putting her on speaker.

"Hello Gabriella are you feeling alright?" Lucille asked.

"I'm fine I just had horrible seat mates on both flights and then I decided to catch the bus which was crowded and I had to stand up the whole way" Gabriella explained.

"Why didn't you get a taxi?" Jack asked concerned. "Didn't you have enough money?"

"I had plenty of money but I wanted to see what the bus service is like" Gabriella answered.

"Are you thinking of using the bus instead of getting a car next year?" Lucille asked.

"That's not a good idea Gabriella. The bus takes twice as long and if you stayed late in the library it might not be safe" Troy argued.

"Relax Troy you're right. I couldn't deal with the bus twice a day. I'll have to get my licence and buy a car" Gabriella said sighing.

"We'll start lessons again next week" Jack promised.

"Thanks Jack" Gabriella said gratefully.

"Troy's right I don't like the idea of you catching the bus after dark" Lucille put in.

"You win I'll learn to drive. Will you help me find a car?" Gabriella asked.

"Of course we will. Unless your mother wants to do that for you. It might be better to buy something when we get to California that way we have one less car to drive across given that we'll have to hire a van to transport everything. And the warrantee service will be easier locally" Jack said thoughtfully.

"Bye Gabriella" Lucille said as Troy got up from the table.

"Night Lucille I'll talk to you soon" Gabriella replied smiling.

"Goodnight Gabriella" Jack added.

"Night Jack" Gabriella called as she realised Jack's voice had come from further away.

Troy took his phone off speaker and headed outside where he could talk to Gabriella in privacy. "Hi Gabi" he said.

"Hey Troy. What did you do today?" Gabriella asked.

"Chad came over for a while and then I helped Mom start to clean out the attic" Troy replied stretching.

"Is Chad okay? Did he say anything about Taylor?" Gabriella asked anxiously.

"He was really surprised that Taylor hadn't told you they'd broken up. He sounded pretty definite that they wouldn't be getting back together. He seemed okay about it though" Troy said. "He was more stressed by his grandparents visiting."

They talked until Gabriella was called to come and eat dinner. "I've got to go Troy I'll talk to you soon."

"I Love you. Skype me later before you go to bed. I don't want to risk waking you up" Troy replied.

"I love you too Troy. Talk to you later." Gabriella said smiling as she disconnected the call.

A/N: Thank you to Pumpkinking5, Wildcats2016, CimorelliMIA, speedsONEandONLY and guest for your support.