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!

This is not edited!


Chapter Four

The sky was still strangely light as he parked on the curb. A good sign that spring was certainly on its way. Troy hopped out of his car. He was the first one home for once in a long time. Last time that happened was…the end of last season. But that didn't mean too much. Off-season training would always continue and summer camps and boot camps and practices would be starting before he knew it. All Troy could do was insure his opportunities of sitting around being lazy.

So, why was he going away for Spring Break when he could sleep in at home?

He dumped his bookbag on the steps as he headed into the kitchen. He found his liter bottle of water and tossed it into the freezer so that once his run was over, it would be perfectly icy.

Troy raced up the stairs, yanking his shirt over his head. He tossed it into his dirty clothesbasket. Pulling on a white T-shirt, Troy changed out of the remainder of his school clothes and into his running shoes paired with red and white track pants.

Limber and loose, Troy began his run, thankful that he didn't have rehearsals to push him back in his schedule. Now he could enjoy a good run without the worry of lines or leader duties looming over him.

Forty minutes later, Troy was back at home. He saw his mom's silver Escort in the driveway. Coach would be home soon. Taking the back way into the kitchen, Troy retrieved his freezer water, deciding the next best course of action would be to do some homework. Basketball season or not, he needed to keep up his grades.

Up the stairs and to the left he reached his room where he found a towel. Patting dry, Troy shouted. "Hi, mom!"

Dana Bolton came to his doorway; she still had her business attire on. She worked as project manager for a store chain based in New Mexico.

"Hello. Have a good day today?"

Troy was not too sure how to answer. It was a good day; no Darbus detention, not much homework, and no fights with Gabriella. It was a bad day; a minor fight with Chad, confusion, and he lied to Gabi.

"I don't know how to answer that one." He plopped down on his bed.

"You don't know how to answer that…" She echoed.

The teal terry fluttered over his face as he laid flat on his bed. He felt the mattress sink in a little.

Troy pointed in the general direction of his opened messenger bag on his floor. "Well, I guess it has something to do with that."

"And that is?"

"Mom," Sighed Troy.

"What, honey? I don't go to school with you, though that would be nice!"

"No way."

His mom chuckled softly. "May I?"

"There's nothing to hiding in there. It's the blue folder packet thing."

His mom went go up. A few seconds later, she sat back down. Rustling and gentle sounds of piqued interest roused Troy from under his towel.

"New York City. That would be fantastic. What's the problem? You don't think your father and I would let you? We will. Flight ticket and hotel fare…a bit of spending money. You deserve it. You've kept those grades up, lead your team to state victory, and – most importantly – completed your first musical leading role successfully. Troy, you did everything so well. I'm proud of you."

He couldn't hide the smile his mom provoked from him. She always knew what to say to make him feel so honored. "Thanks mom. Gabriella really wants to go."

"Is that the problem? You don't have to go just because she said so. I know it has been a while since you had a serious girlfriend but -"

"You see…it has a bit to do with that. I got in a fight with Chad. Nothing horrible or anything like that but – I also lied to Gabriella."

Dana sighed. "Let me take a guess as to the root of your problems."

"Yeah."

"You don't have to tell Gabi about her. But how did you lie to her?"

"She asked her what was wrong and instead of telling her the truth, I just blew it off."

His mother laughed.

"This isn't funny!" He jumped to his feet.

"I know, sweetie. I'm just happy that you feel upset about lying at all. You were always a little unsettled with that when you were with Adele. I think it's awesome that you respect women."

Troy knew he shouldn't have gotten started with his mother about dating issues. Last year, when he dated any girl who wanted to be in the same room with him, his mother would always find a way to weasel in Adele's name. Didn't she know how much that hurt? Probably not. He did, afterall, just chalk the whole breakup as being a case of 'being in different places'. He knew the truth. One day he wished to accept that truth.

"Thanks. But," he sighed. Should he tell her?

"'But' what?"

Go for it. "Nothing,"

The room was silent.

"Okay, honey. If that's all…" She went to leave his room and unwind from the day.

His heart raced as the inner struggle to confess and hold tight what he was concerned about raged within him.

Troy's hand balled behind his head. "That's not it. After seeing Adele again, my mind is all shook up. All those old questions are back and I wish they would go away. I had just learned how to deal without her; I just learned how to stamp out the memories of her; I just learned how to forget about her. Now, however, I can't get passed her. And – and if I go to New York, then I run the risk of seeing her. If I had to bump into her on the street, see her again…I don't know. I don't want to."

Letting all that off his chest was very cleansing. His head suddenly felt like it wouldn't explode with worry.

Tenderness glowed warm in her green eyes as her motherly sympathy kicked in. He didn't need to say it though a mother always knows. Her son hadn't resolved the Adele issue. Troy had beaten it down deep so that he never had to deal with the pain of her leaving. Reality was a foe that everyone dealt with. However, when it's two lovesick teens in ninth grade, it was the bane of their existence. The truth was that their relationship was not what they thought.

Together forever. It was a nice concept. Adele's mother (her best friend since college), Carissa, and herself always dreamt that their children would marry each other. But they knew it was a dream – a fantasy. Troy and Adele, on the other hand, didn't think so.

But who was she to deny love or strip it of its value?

"That's a tough situation. I don't know why you don't want to see her again? You two were friends before you began dating. Don't you want to be there for your best friend when she's succeeding at what she loves?"

"I don't know." He grumbled.

"You're telling me you had no need – whatsoever – to call Adele up to tell her you made varsity last year? That you made Captain? Won the state championship?"

Troy couldn't answer that honesty. For if he did…well, he wasn't ready for the truth.

"Exactly. Try to call her." Dana stood up to leave. "If you need her cell phone number, I can get it for you." She kissed the crown of his head.

He let her leave without a definite answer. Troy wasn't too sure what to do. What he knew was the homework needed to be done.

And so it was.

His father came home. Plans were continued in their processes of becoming made. After not much convincing, his father agreed that he could go off to NYC. The call to Gabriella was exciting to make. To hear the delight in her voice was a pleasure to hear. To know he caused it was something more that bubbled inside his heart.

Hours passed and bleed into the next day where reservations were made and conflicts healed. Things were on the up and up. Life was good. But still the lingering doubts and inquiries floated around him – danced upon his head. Why wasn't he able to forget her? And yet he knew that solution to that riddle.

Like it or not, he missed Adele. He missed the best friend she was to him. They grew up together. If he had lost Chad abruptly, then he would be just as down. Right?

Wrong. Troy knew that was wrong. That complicated emotion called love made things complicated. Everything about the relationship was a confounding mess. They thought of marriage! What two people their age thought of marriage? Them. They were two fools in puppy love. There in-laid the problem. Troy couldn't admit to it but deep within himself he really loved her and was hurt by her leaving him.

So, then why was he here, in this hotel room, in New York City, New York, so close to reaching out to Adele and seeing her?

He had unpacked his things.

"Hey, Troy. The group is going out to eat." Ryan said. He was his roommate.

Troy groaned as he rolled off his double sized bed. "I can't believe it's mid-April already."

"Time flies when you're having fun."

The two young men got dressed. Ryan wore a sapphire blue button-up shirt with black slacks; Troy was in a tuxedo jacket with a T-shirt underneath and faded jeans. The field trip would be remarkable because he was here with Gabriella. Tomorrow started their adventures in the Big Apple.