Title: A Chaotic Mess of Pastels

Author: Me!

Rating: I'm not too sure about the new rating system but I would say this is about…PG-13.

Feedback: I'd love me some it!

Summary: Troy Bolton finally has life all figured out as his junior year wanes. However, his perfect world is in jeopardy as he discovers his past.

Disclaimer: I own not High School Musical or the songs or Zac…but if I did…heheheh. Wow! I don't own much. Wait! I do own Adele Carson!

Thank you so much ZacEfronLuver, xochrissy, Of Laughter and Life, and dancerlittle! You keep me going!


Chapter Two

He vaguely heard his mom's voice telling him something or other. He shifted in his bed only to fall over the side. Troy was awake. The beams of sun that filtered through his drapes caused him to shut his eyes tighter but this only woke him more. Checking his digital clock, Troy felt the anxiety of missing out on his early workout time clench at his stomach. That just meant that today's free period would have to be spent in the training room.

"Why didn't I wake up in time?" Troy asked himself as he went through his dresser, pulling out some necessities before he would jump into the shower. Normally, he would have been up by 6:30 A.M. – and here it was 7:01 – but well…there was no denying it. He had the dream again. It had been a good five months since he dreamt of her.

He physically shook off thoughts of her. Taking a deep breath, he went off to go about his morning routine.

Once fresh and clean in jeans and a printed tee, he raced down the stairs, hopping off the second-to-last step. He found his parents in the kitchen, both going about fixing something for breakfast.

"Sorry," Dana looked over her shoulder. "We all got a late start today, honey. No family breakfast."

"No worries." He got out a bowl for some cereal. He quietly ate his Special K as his dad went about looking for his briefcase. Something he would lose on regular occasion.

A couple of minutes ticked by and Troy thought it best to round up his school supplies. His dad would be leaving soon and then how would Troy be able beat him before his Coach laid in on him for being so late?

Just as his sneakers touch the landing stair his father called him. "Hey, Troy! Come see this."

Pivoting on the balls of his feet, Troy came to his father's call. He happened upon his father and Coach in the living room. "What is it, Dad?"

"I don't typically watch this but you're mom beat me to the remote. Look who's being interviewed."

Troy sat down. 'Good Morning, America' wasn't as bad as his dad portrayed it to be. A fill-in reporter introduced the next segment.

"…And just off Broadway one will find a musical that is growing in critical acclaim. Many have been entranced by this production and further find themselves enchanted when they come to find that an ensemble of students from the Jones Magnet Institute created, produced, directed and performed this wonder. Here today we have the playwright, composer and lead female. Good morning."

On set, in three armchairs, sat a trio of teenagers. One girl with a French braid sat fidgeting while a guy ("That's a guy, right?" "Yes, Troy.") with beautiful hair sat with poise. But in that last seat, Troy saw what his father wanted him to see.

Dressed olive green, black, and dark denim blue, a young woman with a smile to brighten a room was fixed in his gaze. She ran her fingers through her black hair. "Thank you for having us."

"I think congratulations is in order. The success you students created is amazing." The reporter said.

"Thank you, ma'am. It's been a whirlwind of excitement." The girl, Pepper Schwaltz, playwright, "Waiting To Fall" as was written on the screen.

Troy couldn't focus on the words spoken when the camera pulled out for a wide-shot of the four people on set. That could not be…?

"Is that Adele? Little Addie!" His mom interrupted the time drag he was having. Jack clapped his son on the back.

"It certainly is, Dana."

Troy stared mutely at the screen. Adele Carson was still in New York, doing plays and living it up without him. Did she still have his ring? If she did…was she wearing it today? He continued watching the previously recorded show.

A joke must have been exchanged because a small chuckle bubbled out of her mouth. She covered her lips and there it was. A silver band with three gemstones in her favorite colors: blue, green, and clear white.

"I can't believe she still wears that." His thoughts erupted loudly. "Lighting up Broadway." Reminded by the voice in the back of his head that school would be starting soon, Troy shook off the shock. He ignored the knowing look on his mother's face and turned his sight towards his dad.

"Get your things. You'll be late, Troy. Double time." Could he ever leave work and coaching at work and practice?

Troy bolted up the stairs, hurting into his bedroom. With a finger comb to the hair, he grabbed his textbook from the computer table. A thought anchored him to the room.

Disgruntled. That was what this captain felt as he wiggled his arm between the limited space between wood and wall. He gingerly swiped off the dust. Three pictures that he once treasured. The first was the first summer he spent with Adele. She was Addie back then. Sitting on his lawn under a tree, a gutted watermelon on his head, and she was a wedge of the huge melon poised at her lips. They were seven.

The middle photograph was her, alone, taken by Chad the first day eighth grade. That was the year Troy knew he liked Adele. Adele was a more sophisticated name for the budding woman. Black hair dancing in the wind…

Lastly was a black and white photo taken by her mother. The two of them on her porch swing; her head rested on his chest, leg across his while his fingers toyed with hers. They were both looking down at the entrancing image – proof – of the long awaited arrival of a relationship. She was then his Ellie – only his.

Troy took a breath. Then a deeper one. The picture frame was discarded in his open hamper. He stuffed the book into his bag and raced through his house, grabbing his keys from the dish in the entrance hallway, shouting a 'goodbye' behind him.

School bag dumped in the passenger seat, car roaring as he pulled off, Troy on days like today, was grateful for his black Jeep. It had doors and windows…a full metal casing (a feature he was now satisfied with. He wouldn't want to put Gabi in any danger.) and an incredible sunroof…which he used frequently. As he approached a stopped school bus – his school bus that he would have missed if it weren't for his car – Troy pulled out his phone and dialed his favorite number.

It rang once.

It rang twice.

It range thrice. "Hello, Troy."

Ah, he could hear her grin. A warm flutter twittered near his heart. "Hey, sweetie. Need a ride?"

"No thanks."

"You didn't walk, did you?" Troy pulled out of his neighborhood, into an intersection.

She laughed. "No. Not today. I woke up a bit too late for that. My mom's giving me a ride."

In the background he heard: "How are you, Troy?"

"I'm good, Mrs. Montez." Responded Troy.

"Yeah. We're approaching school now. I'll wait up for you in the main entrance."

"I'll see you soon, babe."

"Goodbye,"

As he hung up, he realized that he loved the way Gabriella spoke his name.

The rest of the uneventful drive was such. Quickly, he found a decent parking space. Quickly, he reached the main entrance. And just as quickly he crept up behind Gabi.

Troy slipped his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders. "Hello all."

Taylor was chatting up Gabi, trademark color-coordinated scarf wrapped tight on her head. She waved absentmindedly as she raced through her words.

A small kiss to Gabi's cheek coupled with a discreet, "Is she always like this?"

With a slight nod, Gabrielle started to make her departure. "Sure. Okay. We'll finish this in Chemistry class. Bye."

"But homeroom…?" Taylor questioned to herself as she watched the couple strolled down the hall, disappearing in to the growing sea of high school students.

"Thanks for coming to my rescue."

Troy went over to his locker, deciphering his code. "What did I do? Show-up is all."

"Exactly,"

Once loaded with what he needed, they went about going to class.

Walking the hallways was becoming quite the experience now. Many fellow students ogled at Troy. Captain of varsity basketball now turned musical lead? That just wasn't to be expected at East High. But the stares and whispers were what he came to anticipate. Years ago the same fortune was bestowed on an athlete turned thespian. It did not go so well. Nothing of great distress happened but some – friends even – decided to poke fun or shun outright. But that soccer player was gone now…

…being a success.

Gabi entered Darbus territory with Troy behind. The couple was to part. Because of Darbus' insistence of assigned seating (alphabetically of course), Troy was unable to sit with Gabriella who sat in the back. He tossed his fringe out of his eyes, climbed into his seat incorrectly, and started talking to the guy behind him…his best friend since kindergarten. Chad.

"Yo, what's up, man?" Chad said, slapping hands with Troy.

"Nothing too much. Didn't get Phase One completed."

"Sorry, man. Guess you'll be doing One and Two during free period."

Troy was staring at his friend's three wristwatches. "Yeah. I woke up late today."

"Really? Seems like many people are having a late start today." Chad replied when the bell rang.

Mrs. Darbus wafted into her Drama/homeroom class. "Hello, all; and good morning."

Everyone ceased his or her conversations. If one hadn't learned by now, mid-March, that Darbus commanded a certain respect and fear, then they were destined for the dreaded Drama Detention.

"Come of you in here already know about the big news. Here," she held up the pile of papers she had in her hand, "are the needed reading materials for permission. I hope you join us."

The select few who knew the news fidgeted with excitement or nervousness. Chad leaned forward as Troy sunk in his chair. "What is she talking about?" He murmured.

"I tell you later." Troy whispered back.

"And what is so important, Mr. Danforth and Mr. Bolton, that it can't wait until the end of my class?" What was once airy and full of theatrical presence, Darbus' overall nature turned harsh – and fast.

"Nothing, ma'am." Chad quickly responded, sitting back in his desk chair, straight-laced. He could hear the muffled giggle of Taylor McKessie, a girl he was dating. Hopefully, he could ask her to be his girlfriend.

Their homeroom teacher made a dismissive noise and continued with her speech. "As I was saying. There is limited seating, so hurry."

The bell resounded through the hallways. There was a flurry of scuffling and hurrying off to first bell.

"See you in the workout room." Troy said as he exited.

Chad just nodded.

Troy escorted Gabriella down to her English class. And as he saw her settling into her seat, the quaint idea of going on the field trip rolled through his thoughts. While in his Ceramics class, it began to loudly jostle all thoughts. Should he go? Should he not go?

Troy Bolton tried his hardest to silence the constant nag of the trip. But secretly he knew he would love the opportunity to go to New York…with Gabriella. As long as he didn't have to bump into Adele, that is.