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! And the title of this play! But I don't own the songs used here: Hoobastank "First of Me"; Mae "The Ocean"; Phantom of the Opera "Think of Me". I REALLY WANT TO WRITE THIS MUSICAL NOW!

ZacEfronLuver I wrote more!

StarInHeaven1017 You don't know how excited I was when I read your review! I'm glad that you don't care about whom Troy ends up with. I think have decided how gets him.

monkey402 Yup. 'Had'… :wink wink:

Soph I'm really glad that this is something that has stuck with you. That's why I wrote it; all the other HSM fanfics are so cliché. I do need an editor. IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO BE ONE, E-MAIL ME OR SAY SO IN A REVIEW!

peachie1st I have written more!


Chapter Eight

"But I am not for sale; I am not for sale.

I hear a voice inside.

It's crawling to a scream.

I'm not the next of them –

I am the first of me.

Because I can't live the lie; I am just want you see.

I'm not the next of them –

I am the first of me."

The song's infectious melody and lyrics continued to play on repeat in Troy's head. He was surprised that he could remember that much of a brand new song but it was hard not to love the show tune that had played recently. "Waiting to Fall" wasn't anything he had expected. The story was clever, brilliant, and easy to follow which allowed the Wildcat's captain to fall into the intense emotion and betrayal and love that circulated throughout the musical. And the music…no wonder this play appeals to adults and their teenage sons and daughters. Most of the music was rock. That was yet another thing Troy hadn't anticipated. For a production set in the 1920's, the music was far from jazz or classical. Though, some numbers were the typical symphony pieces one would come to recognize a major musical by.

The scene that was developing before him was of Jonathan proclaiming his need for Lana. She had shown up at his apartment, unannounced, and now was the time. All around him the gentle rhythms flowed.

"Fall around me now,

Like stars that shine and brighten the way.

I need you here tonight just like this night, it needs the rain."

The mood was perfect for romance. Rain echoed through the theatre while the lights were low. A bed was placed stage right. Adele remained coy but the obvious want was building in her eyes. And the way Lana watched Jonathan declare his love for her was breathtaking. Yes, Troy knew things could be breathtaking and he savored those moments.

As the full sound of chimes, guitar, and bass evaporated to the pattering of rain, the moment was set. They locked in an embrace that made the audience sigh with the relief of their coming together. Troy sat on eggshells. He knew what was coming up next.

He didn't think about it.

He barely watched it.

He remembered those hands, those coal-black strands of hair, those tremors…

He was mesmerized by her exposed skin.

Nothing was really shown. The top of her dress was bunched around shoulderswhile her back stayed to the audience. And Niccolo had his shirt unbuttoned a bit as well…not like that mattered much to Troy. What did matter was the chemistry that was between the leads. The two eloquently fell to the bed and Troy didn't feel right watching the two lovers.

It was short lived, the love scene. He hardly understood the grievances against that. The lights had blanked out over the two before anything good could happen while a spotlight was on stage left, highlighting Barney, Jonathan's associate and best friend, and Keith, Lana's friend from the South. They were on the balcony of what was a whole scene unto itself. They were plotting the breaking up – and punishment – of their friends…

"Well, damn." Was all Troy could get pass his lips as the curtain closed for the last time. The house lights stayed dim. Scooting to the edge of his seat, Troy peered down the row. Gabriella, Kelsi, Sharpay, and Ryan were all in various states of awe. Gabriella's eyes had watered significantly while Kelsi's mouth hung ajar. Sharpay seemed blank of any reaction. Ryan's hands were clasped together as his eyes danced with respect for the art of this particular production.

The house lights went up and the audience began their applause. Troy battled inside with himself as to whether he should sit or stand. Stand or sit? When he saw other strangers around him with the same idea as he, Troy stood up. A standing ovation soon followed.

Each cast member was called out for final calls. When her name was announced and she slowly walked on stage, something bubbled up inside the sandy brown-headed young man. He collided his hands into each other, making sure that his applause could be heard.

Adele's eyes quickly found his. The world seemingly stood still. He smiled in approval. Yes, she was spectacular. Yes, she was amazing at what she did. Yes, she would light up Broadway. He hoped she could see that.

He was proud of his old best friend.

One by one, the students filed off the stage, disappearing backstage. Thundering claps and shouts continued to bounce off the walls.

"That was beautiful." Gabriella whispered to Troy, looking up at him.

Yes, you are, he thought. "It really was."

East High pupils filed out of the theatre and onto the bus. Troy, again, sat on the aisle seat with Ryan across from him. "And here I thought that 'Wicked' was number one in my book. I think we've got a contender."

"Seeing 'Wicked' last night was pretty cool but I would have to say that I like this one best. We still have 'The Producers' tonight…" Troy leaned back in his seat.

"And Sunday afternoon 'Two Tables and a Line'." Sharpay added, leaned forward from her window seat.

"Then on Monday, 'RENT'. I can't wait for that." Kelsi piped up from behind Troy. "Troy, I know Tuesday you will be happy. 'Avenue Q' is hilarious. I'll have to let you borrow the soundtrack later on."

"Okay." The bus pulled up to some eatery. They found a table that could fit the five comfortably and began chatting about the musical.

"If only I could sit down with the composer and writer. Those words with such metaphors and the music! Genius. I wish I had the gumption to do what they are doing." Kelsi pulled her hair up in a ponytail.

Gabriella leaned closer to Troy whose arm was balanced on top of her chair. "You're getting there. You wrote our musical, which was a hit. Just keep up the musings and practice your talent."

"Such positivity. It's truly sickening." Sharpay said before breaking into a smile. "But that love scene. It was barely a PG-13 rating in my opinion."

Ryan was perusing the laminated menu. "I know. I guess it had to do more with their ages. People don't want to think that people our age have sex. Simulating it is just a sin!"

"I guess you're right."

"I am. There wasn't much controversy in that. Those who are around our age probably think this is the best thing to happen to musicals. It could help open the gateway to theatre to others our age."

A small army of wait staff came out to get the orders of everyone off the bus. They all ordered sodas at Troy's table. "I guess I can cave in and have a soda. We are in New York," rationalized Sharpay as she ordered a Sprite.

"I have to agree with you, Ryan." Troy said. "I completely loved that music. I wish they had a soundtrack of those songs. Really cool."

Comfortable was the silence that fell around them as they sipped the drinks that came back quickly enough. The food had been ordered and the group patiently waited.

Kelsi ended the hush around their specific table. "You know what? I knew Adele could sing but those years here did her wonders. I could never fathom her being any better but today…" She let out a low whistle.

Sharpay shrugged. "She was alright."

"Sharpay. Let it go," warned Ryan.

"Fine. She was good." She sniffed in her typical 'Ice Queen' fashion.

Troy nodded in assent.

"I'm curious. What was she like in freshman year? Taylor mentioned her once or twice before." Asked Gabriella.

Speechless. That was the best way to describe the other four seated at the table. Thankfully, their orders arrived.

"A Ceasar salad for you." The waitress placed the bowl in front of Sharpay. "The grilled chicken for the man in the awesome hat." Ryan had to help take the plate from her seeing as how it was balanced on her forearm. In her hand was Gabriella's French Onion soup. "And you two. The pie will be out shortly." She smiled, walking back to the kitchen.

"So, what was she like?" Gabriella asked again. Troy slid his arm from behind her. He could feel the expectation to speak first pressing on him from all sides.

"We were good friends for a long while…since second grade. She was on the soccer and basketball teams as you heard. She had this secret love for theatrics. I knew about it. So did Chad. We were the Golden Trio as some called us. Adele's funny, smart, sweet, kind, strong, and goes at things full-steamed. Can motivate a rooster to lay an egg. I think you two would have gotten along great." Troy kept it nice and sweet. He didn't want to dishonor her and what they had together but also didn't want to glorify her into sainthood.

"Sounds like we could have," Gabi ate a chunk of the cheesy bread crouton that was floating in the cup. Troy and Kelsi's large cheese pizza came out piping hot. He watched the expressions on Ryan, Kelsi, and Sharpay's faces. They were apprehensive and tense. But now they seemed to ease.

Troy's message alert beep sounded while he was mid-bite his third slice. He cleaned his hands and flipped open his phone. It was a text from Chad.

See if you can make it to my room tonight around ten. I'm so bored.

Troy seriously thought about it. There was one thing to think about though. How was he ever to get passed Darbus and her dreaded curfew?

Ryan flopped down on his mattress as Troy sat down in a chair. "That was such a stellar show."

Troy laughed in agreement. "The Producers" was quite funny and clever as well. Troy was surprising himself with all the plays he was interested in. He honestly was in love with "Avenue Q" and he hadn't seen it yet. The soundtrack was hilarious. It reminded him of Crank Yankers. Especially after Kelsi explained the premise of the show that included the employment of puppets as the full cast.

"What time is it?"

Ryan checked his watch. "Five past ten. You better wait until after Mrs. Darbus does bed check to go visit Chad."

"Very right you are." Troy grabbed his phone from his pants pocket, dialing Chad's number from heart.

It rang once before he got an answer. He could hear someone else in the background; Troy assumed it was Chad's mother. "Where are you, man?"

"We just got back from a play. So, since ten is typically lights out and bed check…I'll call right before I leave."

"Lights out?"

"Not really. Just lights out until she's in bed. She doesn't come back out until five in the morning to do another check."

"Five in the morning! I'm really glad I didn't sign up for that. My mom dragged me to go see 'The Phantom of the Opera'. I can't believe she forced me to go along. Thanks, bro."

"Sorry," laughed Troy. "Call you back in about twenty."

"Hope you can make it." He hung up the phone.

"Bustin' out time in twenty." Informed Troy.

"Okay, I'm heading in the shower now."

The two boys had figured it best to take their showers at night since the day's events began promptly at nine. Ryan and Troy both loved their sleep.

Watching T.V. passed the time quickly enough. A knock on the door startled him. Darbus. He checked the peephole and sure enough he was looking into her spectacled eye. Unlocking the door open, Troy welcomed the teacher with his best smile.

"Where's Ryan?"

She apparently said this loudly enough so that Ryan, who was out of the shower and probably brushing his teeth, shouted out a "Here, ma'am."

"Good. See you in the morning." She went across the hall. Troy Bolton kept the door open a crack as to listen to Darbus' knocks. Three long awaited minutes and a peek later, Troy watched Darbus go into her own room.

"'Night, Ryan." With his keycard and phone in hand, Troy crept towards the elevator. As soon as he was inside the elevator, rising two floors, he called Chad.

"Just knock,"

Troy padded down the hallway and stopped at 1142. He rapped lightly and there stood Mrs. Danforth. "Hello, Troy. They're on the balcony. I'm going across the hall with some girlfriends from work. Don't stay up too late now."

"We won't." He let her go by before stepping in. Troy shut the door. An operatic voice lilted above the sounds of Time Square.

"Think of the way things might have been.

Think of me.

Think of me waiting, silent and resigned.

Imagine me, trying too hard, to put you from my mind.

Think of me.

Please, say you'll think of me,

Whatever else you choose to do.

There will never be a day when I won't think of you."

Frozen. That was the best way to describe the way he was at that moment. He couldn't know that voice but then again he did. It was so familiar.

"Please stop," Chad pleaded.

"That is my favorite. I can't help myself. I could always sing: 'The Phantom of the Opera is here…inside my heart.'"

Troy knew before he saw. Out on the balcony Chad was sitting while Adele stood, leaning against the cemented security railing…wall – thing. Did anyone know what those things were called? Troy shook the idea from his mind as he took a deep breath and stepped onto the balcony.

Troy reluctantly cleared his throat. "What's up?"

Again with the silence. What was with everyone clamming up whenever Adele was around or even brought up in conversation? It was getting quite tiresome to feel tension and eggshells around him.

Adele shrugged. "Nothing too much." Her hair was clipped back. She was wearing black flat-front trousers with a deep satiny red camisole. He noted that her heels were kicked off near Chad's chair.

"You went to go see the dreaded musical?"

"Yeah. Had to invite someone with me to keep me awake." Teased Chad.

Adele scoffed. "Oh quit it. You loved it."

"Not really."

She made some disgruntled noise and looked over her shoulder. Troy frowned towards his best friend who smiled back. "You two get over yourselves."

"Excuse me," Adele and Troy said in stereo.

"So you broke up and are a nation apart. Who cares? You both were best friends first or did you forget the promise we made when we all started to date people?"

Troy knew what Chad was alluding to but Adele seemed interested in the streets below.

"Fine. We said that no matter what kind of girlfriends or boyfriends we would have, we would never forget the bond we had first. You two must have totally thought that since you each became the other boy or girlfriend, the pact didn't mean a thing. Wrong. We all in this together. Friends to the end."

"Yeah. To the end of friends." Said Adele bitterly.

Troy shook his head. "I never wanted to end this." Now, what 'this' meant was a double-edged word. Friendship and relationship.

"Neither did I. But you made it clear that you weren't going to try and -"

"Stop it, guys! I'm sorry I even brought it up." Chad stood on his feet.

Troy felt terrible for putting his friend in such a position, however, it was Chad's own fault for failing to tell him that Adele would be here. "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

Adele went to Chad and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm cranky when I wear heels too long. I'll try."

"Good. Troy?"

"Of course."

Troy stole Chad's seat, which caused Adele to laugh at the two boys. "Still acting up in homeroom?"

"Oh yeah. I don't think Darbus misses you much." Said Chad.

"I don't think she does, either." Agreed Adele.

Troy grinned. "We give her enough of a hard time though."

"Yeah,"

Troy suddenly had an idea. "So, shouldn't you be on campus? Do you have a campus?"

"Nope and yup. It's the weekend and if you sign up to visit relatives nearby, you're let off. I'm supposed to be up with my Aunt Greta but since I heard out about Chad coming up, I decided to mooch off of him." Her smile could still be seen illuminating the surroundings.

"You know what? I always wondered this but our parents really trusted us when you slept over." Troy said, genuinely amazed.

"They really did. But now that Taylor is Chad's new girlfriend, I'm no threat to him. I still – to this day – can't believe that Taylor is with a, and I quote, 'lunk-head basketball man'. A lot has changed."

Chad nodded his head. "It has. I'm going in to get a soda." Chad went inside and quietly closed the screen and glass door.

Troy spaced out a bit, getting lost in the sights and sounds around him. The ex-couple remained silent, awaiting the return of Chad. Yet, as the minutes rolled by, it was obvious something was awry. Troy went to the door and tried to open it; it wouldn't budge. He knocked on the glass but there stood Chad with a devious smile on his face.

"We're locked out."

Chad nodded his head. He raised his voice. "Until you two are civil and friends again, you stay out there."

"I knew I hated him for a reason." Muttered Adele as Troy plopped into the solitary chair. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Let's be civil, please?"

What the heck was civil when it came to two people so passionately in love that, at the age of fourteen, they were ready to marry?

"Or let's just do some stage business. You know, just move our lips to make it look like we're having a conversation while whomever has the stage can talk without being overshadowed."

"We could but I really do want to try and be civil."

"Oh,"

Troy's knee bounced frantically. His nerves were getting to him. "You can sing opera. Cool."

"It's only sort of like opera. My dream is to play Aida. Ever since my parents took me to see 'Aida'…I knew this is what I wanted to do. You remember?"

"I do. You were so enthusiastic about the whole thing. That was the first night you started to sing. A natural."

"Thank you. You're quite the talented singer yourself. I never thought that 'Twinkle Town' would have been as good as it was. I mean, come on. The title doesn't scream smash hit. I think it had something to do with the leads. The chemistry between you and Gabriella was awesome. And your voice…I'm rambling." Her eyes sparked in the light that filtered out from the hotel room.

"No you're not."

"I adore 'Breaking Free'."

"It's my favorite as well."

With her hands folded in front of her, Adele finally looked at Troy. "How's the basketball thing going?"

Troy breathed out the anxiety that was building up inside him. He knew sports. He understood sports, namely basketball. "I don't know if you heard but last year I made starting varsity."

"No flippin' way! A sophomore?"

"That's why I'm team captain now. We went to the state championship and we won that as well."

"Well good job."

Adele suddenly seemed conflicted and at odds with something or herself.

"What's wrong?" questioned Troy.

"I don't know if I can give you a hug or not."

She was always so up-front about these things. Never afraid of getting hurt whenever she was around him. Did he want her to hug him? "What for?" He tittered.

"Congrats on all your success."

"And yours too," Troy stood up. It took everything he had to not sit back down. Closing the space between them with a couple of steps, Troy embraced her loosely, ensuring that nothing that didn't need to touch didn't.

When they released the hug, their demeanors changed. Perhaps it was like reconciliation – a second chance.

"You know what?" Adele abruptly said in the middle of the conversation the two were having about high school. "We can just forget that ninth grade ever happened if it helps you?"

"Still know how to just get right to it and make things awkward."

"Sorry, Troy. But I don't want to make this any harder for Gabriella and you."

That queasy feeling that Troy got before a big game hit him with full force. He was utterly uncomfortable with speak of his relationship with Gabriella when it came to discussing it with an ex.

"I don't want to talk about her and all the juicy details. I just don't. I do know you care about her and I don't want to make you feel like you have to rehash old memories, fights, scars, and love when you're building a better future."

Why did she care about any of that? She couldn't still love him after the way she fizzled off.

"Just don't talk about any of it and we'll be cool."

Nodding her head, Adele twisted the ring off of her finger and presented it to Troy.

"I don't want it. It's yours. Keep it. It was a gift." What was he saying? He would never give that to Gabi but he could pawn it and get money back.

No, that was too harsh and cruel to do to Adele. She was still his friend.

Quietly, she slipped the circle of metal back on. "Good. This thing is my lucky charm."

"I'm glad this is settled," Chad appeared. "Took you guys long enough."

"You know what?" said Adele, picking up one of her shoes. "I should throw this at you, boy."

"You wouldn't."

The three caught up on things that needed to be caught up upon. Life, love, laughs, and which CD's they were listening to constantly. Mrs. Danforth came to the door. "Troy, don't you need to be heading back? It's almost two in the morning."

"You can't be serious?" With one check to his phone, the panic began to rise in his chest. He would barely be getting any sleep tonight. "I don't want to go but I have to. See you later, Chad. Adele, I'll definitely call you some time."

As he headed back down two floors, Troy realized that he couldn't wait until he could speak with Adele again.