Chapter 13:

Kelsi, Sharpay, and Taylor were all sitting on the floor in Kelsi's family room, supposedly studying when Kelsi's cell phone began ringing. When she saw who it was, she immediately jumped up to leave.

"Who is it?" Sharpay asked as she tucked a strand of her perfect blonde hair behind her ear.

"I'll be right back," Kelsi said quietly, intentionally avoiding the question. Sharpay and Taylor looked at each other. It wasn't like Kelsi to not tell them something.

Gabriella bit her bottom lip. What was she thinking? Troy wasn't going to be happy at first when he finally does find out, but she really didn't care at the moment.

"Hey Kelsi, it's Gabi," she said.

"God, is that really you?" asked Kelsi. Gabriella smiled.

"Yeah, it's really me. I figured that I should call someone, and after a long process, I chose you. You should be honored."

"I am, so now tell me where the hell you and Troy are." Gabriella froze. Kelsi was swearing. That couldn't be good. The fact that Kelsi was swearing told Gabriella that she was a little upset about her and Troy leaving.

"I'm in New York City."

"New York City? What are you doing all the way out there? We thought that you were at Troy's Aunt's house or something in Arizona."

"Yeah, right. We found out about Ian the evening of the Talent Show, and a good family friend of mine from New York was there, so he said that I could come to his place. Troy, of course wouldn't let me leave without him. So, here we are, at a party, in New York City."

"A party in New York City? As in, with a famous celebrity and paparazzi and stuff?" Gabriella couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah, right. There are a bunch of celebrities downstairs, and I know one of them. Take a guess, I told you guys that I know him." Kelsi began to wrack her brain in hopes of remembering who Gabriella was talking about.

"I have no clue Gabi. Who are you staying with?"

"Adam Pascal. Roger from Rent. Remember when we were watching the movie how I told you that I know him? He flew out to see the Talent Show, and go down to Santa Fe with his one son, and I'm staying at his place along with Troy."

"You're so lucky! So who exactly is at this fun-filled party you're at?"

"Umm, the people from Rent, the Original Broadway Cast. They had their Tenth Anniversary Show yesterday, and now Adam's having a party. We got to go to the show, and the after party yesterday, which was really fun."

"Gabi? Gabi?" Lennon called.

Gabriella stuck her head out her bedroom door, and replied, "One minute, I'll be right there."

"Mommy wants to know how many burgers you want."

"One's fine, I'll eat Troy's if I'm still hungry."

"Okay."

"Sorry Kels, so, what's up with school and everything?"

"Nothing much. The normal stuff. Basketball season's over, so Chad, Zeke, and Jason have a life."

"I'm sure you're happy about getting Jason back."

"Well, I'm still helping out with The Wiz, along with Bri, Ryan, and Sharpay. We open in two weeks. Are you going to come home to see it?"
"If they catch Ian, then yes. If not, then we're stuck out here for a few more weeks."

"Wow, that really sucks. Oh, people at school are talking."

"Talking about what?"
"You and Troy, and where you two disappeared to. It's never a good sign when two of East High's most popular students simply disappear. Once the news station put the story out about Ian, everyone stopped talking. Some people realized that that was your Mom's boyfriend, and set the record straight. Oh, and keep your cell phones off starting from like right after we get done here."

"Wait, why?" Gabriella sat down on her bed.

"Taylor, Sharpay, and Chad all came up with this brilliant little idea. They're going to call you and Troy non-stop until you finally get pissed and pick up the phone. You know, smoke you both out. We've all been dragged into this little mess; it's crazy."

"Oh, I'm sorry Kelsi. We should have told at least someone, but we were in such a rush to get out, and if you all just thought that we were sick, it would have been easier."

"Hey Kelsi, who's on the phone?" Gabriella heard Taylor ask their friend.

"Lie, please Kels, tell them that it's your cousin or something like that. Please," she pleaded. Kelsi sighed.

"It's my cousin. She had a question for me. Umm, no, I'm not coming out to visit you this summer, my friends and I are going to hang out, and stuff." Gabriella stifled a laugh. Kelsi wasn't a bad actress! "Yeah, I know that sucks. I gotta go. Bye."

"See 'ya Kels." The two friends hung up, and Gabriella turned off her phone.

Troy was talking with Adam and Taye when Gabriella got downstairs. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and kissed his cheek softly.

"Turn off your cell phone, I just got off the phone with Kelsi," she whispered in his ear before resting her head on his shoulder.

"Turn off my phone? Why?"
"They're going to call us non-stop until we pick up apparently at some point tonight. Just turn it off!"

"Okay, okay, I will. Adam wants us to sing Elaborate Lives for everyone."

"Uh-uh, no way."

"And why not?" Adam asked.

"Troy's best friend, with the maturity level of a toddler, ruined the song for us."

"How?"

"He was reading over the script, and when he got to the part right after Elaborate Lives, he exclaims, in the middle of lunch, 'Oh my God! You guys have sex!'" Adam and Taye both began to laugh. "It's not funny! Troy and I were bright red, and everyone but Chad's girlfriend was laughing hysterically. He didn't let it go for a week."

"Sounds like you have some nice friends," commented Taye. Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"That's what people call that now," she replied sarcastically.

Around ten o'clock, Gabriella was completely wiped. She didn't know why though, she hadn't gotten up until almost noon that day. She said goodnight to everyone who was still at the party, and went upstairs to her room. She immediately crawled in bed, and fell fast asleep. She didn't hear when Troy came in, covered her up with the comforter she hadn't even bothered to use, kissed her cheek, and told her that he loved her. Adam, however, saw the whole thing. He instantly knew that Gabriella meant the world to Troy, and he was glad the basketball player had come to New York too. He offered Gabriella with some support he and Cybelle couldn't.

A month of waiting. A month of lying to friends, and waiting for that one call that would instantly send a young couple home. Gabriella was in her room getting a ponytail holder when her phone began to ring. She groaned loudly. She wanted to be downstairs. Idina and Taye were over, and she wanted to go hang out with her new friends. Gabriella instantly stopped groaning when she saw who it was…her mother.

"Hola Mamí!" she said when she picked up the phone.

"Mija, I have something to tell you."

A/N: if everything goes as planned, only two more chapters. Please review! Much love.

Tina101