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!

ZacEfronLuver I wrote more! Once again…

StarInHeaven1014 I'm glad that you really dig this story. I love the last chapter too!

tbalingy I like Gabi and Troy…I like Troy and Sharpay but I just wanted to see how a Troy and OC fic would go. I hope I can live up to something wonderful!

XrevengeX I like your name…and stuff. Hehe

peachie1st That's for me to know and for you to find out.

STILL NOT EDITED. SOMEONE HELP ME WITH EDITING!


Chapter Nine

Sunday flew passed Troy in a flurry of even more sightseeing, eating in, and seeing yet another production. At least this time around, it was an actual play. "Two Tables and a Line" was a very good, low-on-the-radar sort of play and Troy found it quite engaging.

Spending time with Gabriella in another city, discovering new places, was causing something new to grow within his chest. It fluttered and twittered with the excitement of bird beginning to fly. This feeling Troy was feeling was new in this stage of his life but he knew it well. He had experienced it once before and that's how he figured it was right.

The knowledge that all was settled between Adele and him gave Troy the sort of freedom to be comfortable. How and why they broke up was forgotten; the memories they created and shared were laid to rest. The two of them were friends again, rebuilding the relationship they had once before bit by bit. She showed East High around her current stomping grounds, introducing the group to up-and-coming bands, musicians, models, and actresses.

Her and Sharpay actually had a bonding experience over the boutiques there. Troy couldn't remember Adele ever being so worried about clothes but he assumed that came with the territory of Broadway. If she wanted to make it big, she had to look good…always. She certainly was no Sharpay. Thank goodness.

"So, tomorrow is your last day?"

Troy bit into his hot dog. He shook his head 'no'.

"No? That's when Chad's leaving. I just thought he would have hung around with his best bud for as long as possible."

Taking a huge swallow, Troy spoke. "No, we're staying until Wednesday morning – early morning. Tonight is 'RENT'-"

"I loved it!" She interjected.

He continued. "And tomorrow is 'Avenue Q'."

"You'll love it. It's amazingly, crazy good."

"Great adjectives,"

"You know what an adjective is?" She retorted, laughing. The rest of the students were eating on the lawns in Central Park.

"I forgot how lame you were."

Adele walked away with a smile on her face. "You really need to go back to school."

"And what for?"

"I don't really know." Adele found a bench under the shade. "Shouldn't you be back with your Wildcat peeps?"

"Shouldn't you be in school?" Troy remembered a phone conversation they once had so long ago about an early Spring Break. "Spring Break's over here."

"Typically, you would be right. But this time, you are wrong. I'm going on tour at the end of June. Since we've worked strenuously thus far, my school is allowing the cast and everyone who is going along early summer. I took my exams last week, during Spring Break."

"That's gotta suck. You barely have time to relax."

Adele flung her head back in exasperation. "I just said end of June and this is barely even May."

"Whatever. Do you know tour dates and places?"

"You care why?"

"I told you that night on the balcony how much I loved that music. I wish I had a soundtrack. Chad, Taylor, and I may want to come see you if you're coming in town,"

"Really, Troy? You liked it?"

"Heck yes I did," He impersonated.

"That was the worst Napoleon Dynamite ever."

"Stop hatin' on me."

Adele burst out laughing. She doubled over in pure elation. "If only the gangs could hear you now."

Troy flashed his pearly whites. "You're so mean."

"Though, you might love the fact that the Institute closes at the end of June. I'll have to wait that whole time for senior year…the last half at least."

"Wow. Ha ha. Short summers,"

"Smarter pupils."

The ease with which they spoke and the banter that was exchanged gave Troy an odd sense of calm. Things were over between the two of them and they were still friends. To think of all the people who don't remain friends with his or her ex made Troy think them foolish. And better still, being with Gabriella was all the more sweet. The relationship flowed with something special.

Another thing that Troy felt something special for was 'Avenue Q'. What couldn't he say about the musical? It was stellar…beyond words…great. It was hilarious and worked on such a low level that Troy thought that even Chad would love it.

However, with the arrival back at the hotel after the production, the fun was fizzling out. They would be waking up at five in the morning to board a red-eye back to New Mexico. Packing up was fun since Troy only came with one carry-on and a suitcase but was coming back with three other bags of junk.

"How did I collect all this crap?" Troy scratched his head, standing above his baggage.

Ryan came up behind the basketball star. "Yeah…one of them belongs to me."

"But that still leaves me with two more plastic bags! Can you even take plastic bags with you? Don't tell me I'm going to have to buy luggage."

"Calm down. Drama, much?"

"Hanging out with you gave me that Drama." Troy said. "Maybe Gabriella might have some for me to use." He headed for the door.

"But what about Mrs. Darbus?" Ryan asked.

"What about her? I just need to ask a question…"

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Sure. I'll see you on the bus,"

Troy knew what he meant. He wouldn't spend all that time with her. He just needed to ask her something. That's it…though spending some more time with her did sound tempting. "I'll be back."

"When it's tomorrow morning and we're boarding a plane back home."

Troy waved goodbye to Ryan, then headed down the hall to the left. A few doors down was the room that Gabriella and Kelsi shared. He knocked lightly on the door, waiting patiently for the door to open.

"Hey, Gabi'll be out in a sec,"

"Thanks, Kel. And thanks for the copy of 'Avenue Q'."

"No problem." She hooked her thumbs under the bottom hem of her pajama T-shirt. "Don't forget that we have to get up soon. I'm getting to bed now."

"Well, night." Just passed her, he could see his gorgeous girlfriend appear. He straightened his posture and fixated a smile on his visage. "Good evening, gorgeous." Pecking her cheek softly, Troy grasped her hand.

"What do I own this lovely surprise?" She flushed a bit.

"I've got a question to ask you. Do you have any extra room so I can pack my things with you? I only came with two things and I'm leaving with four bags. Two of which are plastic bags."

"Of course. Did you bring them with you?"

A moment of realized stupidity came upon Troy. "I'll go get them,"

"Right," Gabi's telling smile held back the laughter.

Bolting down the hall went Bolton. He careened into his hotel room, snatched up his purchases, and arrived back at Gabi's room in under a minute.

"You've got a bright future in pizza delivery, Troy." Kelsi joked from her bed.

"Oh, just go to sleep, playmaker." Playmaker…play maker…word play…Troy just got it. It was funny.

Gabriella took his two bags, folding them over. When the last bit of air was out of the plastic bags, she nestled them in her huge suitcase. "There! All solved."

"Thank you," He kissed her cheek.

"You're welcome."

"Come on," Troy grabbed Gabriella's hand, guiding her to the elevator and down to the lobby.

"What about Mrs. Darbus?" whispered Gabriella fanatically.

"We'll be back in time."

The night staff had begun their shifts and was peacefully going about their business. Troy found a couch, plunking down on it. He patted the cushion next to his. Reluctantly, Gabriella sat down. She propped herself against Troy softly rising-and-falling chest. Maneuvering his arm to a more comfortable position, the sandy-brown headed young man rested his arm around the curve of Gabi's waist.

Moonlight filtered in through the opened windows. Concentrations of orange bulb light played against the wallpaper. All around them a demeanor of calm settled.

"Aren't you glad you came?"

Though he could have done this at home with her? Though he could have slept in and vegged out on the couch? Though he wouldn't have been inundated with musicals? "Yes, I am,"

It was simple enough. Wherever Gabi was…that was where he needed to be. Ever since she stepped onto the stage hesitantly, she changed his world. Breaking free from all the binds that held him down was all he had done since she came. He was a better man for that. No one had ever made him feel like a better man. Adele couldn't boast that…no one could except for Gabriella Montez.

"I think I would have regretted not coming."

"Why?"

"I love being around you," He murmured into her curls.

She sniffed. "That tickles. I love being around you as well." She snuggled closer to him.

"What's the first thing you're going to do once we get home?"

"Sleep,"

"No way! Me too. Fate." Joked Troy.

"It must be." Her eyes were closed.

"You sleepy? We can always go back."

"No," Gabriella pressed her hand to his shoulder as Troy attempted to stand. "No. I'm just enjoying the sound of your heart beating. So, shh."

What could Troy do but stay put? Whatever she wanted, he would give to her. He had completely forgotten about the lie he told a few weeks back concerning his feelings and thoughts. Back then was so muddled. Thinking about it was weird. It was only two weeks ago but it seemed like a lifetime ago. He was clear of what ifs and used-to-be's. A clean slate was the best way to describe it.

The rest of the evening was spent just being. Being together and serene. He couldn't pinpoint the moment when they both fell asleep but he knew it was 1:27 in the morning. The two raced back to their rooms. And in good time. A few minutes later, Darbus came knocking. They needed to be at the airport no later than 2:30 A.M. or else they would never make the flight home.

With no sleep under his belt, Troy somehow made it to the airport, through security, and onto the plane without feeling tired. However, once the sign said it was safe to take off seatbelts, Troy got comfortable and slept.

Some time between nine and ten o'clock the tourists were back in Albuquerque, sluggishly going to their parents and loved ones. Troy couldn't wait to get home and sleep the day away. He turned onto a street – THE street. He saw the man…Adele's father, Miles, pulling out of the driveway. Miles caught Troy's attention. Instead of doing the usual look-away, the teen smiled and waved. This took the man by surprise. Eyebrows still raised, Adele's dad waved back.

All things were cool now.

Everything that had happened was great. The sights, the sounds…

"…and the musicals were great. I didn't think I'd like them but…I do!" Troy exclaimed around the dinner table. He was piling carrots on his plate.

"I'm glad to hear you had a wonderful time." His dad said.

"I did. I really did!"

"You know – I know I shouldn't but…" his mom began, "I heard through the grapevine that you and Adele had a reconciliation."

"We did,"

Jack chuckled. "Knew you two would. You both were friends for too long to not mend the friendship. How is she doing anyway?"

"Great. She loves her school, loves her friends, and loves NYC. Everything we thought. She's on break now since her play's about to go on tour throughout the country." He managed to get out without choking on his chicken.

Jack to a sip of his white wine. "And how did you two meet up?"

"Well, she – her cast was the group of actors doing the workshop I told you about. Then Chad was up there for a few days with his mom and since those two stayed in touch they were hanging out during his vacation up there. Next thing I know, I'm invited to come hangout at his hotel room and there she is. We patched things up so don't worry. We're friends."

"Good," said Dana.

"Yes it is. Now, can someone please pass the rolls?"