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…and the song parts from Chpt 14!
carito06 I don't like causing you nervouswrecks but the story's gotta unfold the way it is. I hope you still like it.
Oliverwoodschic I don't think you know how much it means to me to have you, a Troyella fan, still reviewing my fic when, at times, it looks like it will be any different. Thanks.
sophthewiseone For some reason, I laughed so much reading your commentary. You really don't like Chad, huh? These songs WHICH I DON'T OWN…NONE OF THESE SONGS MENTIONED…I heard while listening to the radio. I listen to them and like them but I'm a rock gal. I hope the chappie I sent you cleared up some questions.
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Chapter Seventeen
Tonight was going to be an ordeal. No matter how far they had come to becoming friends again, she had to do something to fall back into the mess that they started in. Back downstairs he went where he found Chad's, Adele's, his own parents talking in the kitchen as Chad, Nyia, and Adele sat at the informal dining table. He took a seat by Chad, keeping his gaze on anything except his ex-girlfriend.
"Yeah, so how much was the dress?" Nyia announced abruptly and loudly.
"Shut up," Adele grumbled.
"I was just wondering." Her sugary sweet tone was a ruse.
"By the look of that smile on your face I would say you're being malicious."
"You know mom and dad don't want you to spend too much. We're all concerned about your spending. Especially if you're using it to impress people or a person."
Chad held back his laughter. "Ny, you're horrible."
"She loves it."
Adele watched her sister stoically. "Keep going. I don't care. I won't let you get me in trouble. This is my day."
The doorbell rang. Adele rose from her seat, smiling smugly. "I'm sure that's the DJ." She went to find out who was at the door.
"Why do you keep picking on her?" Chad laughed.
A guy about five years older than Adele walked through the kitchen, with the hostess of the party, out to the backyard. "Fire up the grills, people. It's show time!"
"What is your daughter talking about?" Mr. Carson asked, taking the burgers out of the refrigerator.
"It's 6:05, Dad." clarified Nyia. "Let's go boys."
The two boys followed the youngest Carson to the back. Already, a handful of people was straggling in, idly waiting for the DJ to finish setting up. Nyia quickly ditched Troy and Chad, spotting her best friend.
"Hey," Taylor kissed Chad chastely. "How big do you guys think this party will be?"
"Too big to fathom." Troy mentioned as he scanned the tables in search of his girlfriend. "Where's Gabi? I thought you guys were coming together."
"Hold on!" Chad threw his hands up. "How did these people get in here?"
Taylor sighed, rolling her eyes. "The side gate." She pointed to the area where people were filling up the large backyard space.
"Right, sorry…continue." Sheepishly, Chad put his arm around Taylor who was giggling.
"Gabs and Kelsi are over there, talking to Adele who's pushing the MC to get the music goi-" She was cut off by the sounded beats of "Temperature" by Sean Paul.
"That's solved." Said Troy. He quickly found Gabriella emerging from the dance floor with Kelsi.
Gabriella was in a blue sundress with her curls hanging loosely. Her skin was a-glow in the fading sunlight. "Hi, sweetie." she whispered as she kissed his cheek.
Natural it was now as he slid his arm around her waist, bringing her near.
"I can't believe this place. The lights that are stung through the trees and connecting from lantern to lantern are fantastic. And the elevated pedestals are Roman columns in design…this blows me away. Her own DJ?"
Taylor chuckled. "That's a Carson party for you."
"Actually, this is nothing." Chad said, bopping his head to the music. "One year she had a huge Bouncing Castle and soap-sud dispenser."
"Why would anyone need that?" Kelsi asked, taking the bundle of plastic beaded necklaces from around her arm and passing them around the group.
"To celebrate going to high school so there was need for one last kiddie party. Plus, her Mom got a promotion." Troy informed.
"That's still ridiculous."
"True, Kelsi. But Adele really doesn't celebrate birthdays. That's Nyia's department. Those can be pretty fun and over the top."
"You are totally pulling my strings." She said, dismay laden in her voice.
"Perhaps we are." Chad said. "Perhaps we're telling the truth."
"It was a few cheap bubble maker machines that made it look a lot better than it sounded."
"And thank you, Troy, for ruining the illusion."
Adele came strutting over to the small group. "Look at all these people. I hope there are enough burgers and such."
"I don't eat meat." Kelsi said.
"Don't worry. There are veggie burgers and chicken burgers and meat burgers. You're set. I see some off the soccer gals. Do you need to put anything up in my room?"
"I didn't bring anything but I could go get something."
"Chad, sweetheart, not you." Taylor placed her hand on chest. "She means us girls."
Hitching his eyebrows, Chad faked looking nonchalant about the matter. "Oh. I see. Addie's gotta kill a tradition. I'm okay with that."
Adele gave Chad a sympathetic smile. "I didn't think you boys still wanted to have a sleepover with me. You guys have gals now. I don't know if they'd like that too much. See you guys soon. Zeke! Jason." The two boys came from the left entrance. She gave them both hugs before greeting her old soccer teammates.
"Not as big as her past parties –yet – but just as awesome." Jason kissed Kelsi's temple.
"Finally decided to come clean?" Taylor asked.
Kelsi blushed as Jason held her hand. "Yes. So drop it. No scenes." He spoke.
Gabriella held her hands up. "No problem."
"Anyone seen Sharpay?" asked Zeke after he greeted his two other teammates.
"Nope." Chad said, undermining the tension that thickened the air. The fight from Thursday wasn't resolved. "The Evanses will probably show fashionably late."
Zeke shrugged his shoulders. "Most likely."
Troy kept quiet. He decided to just enjoy the party. Gabriella and himself stayed together, mingling as a couple, never leaving the other's side. By seven o'clock most of the guests had arrived. Many of Adele's old teammates had shown but so had some of the drama kids, braniacs, skater kids, and whatnots that she had befriended through her one year at East High. To see all the people that Adele knew was thrilling. Troy was once apart of her life and, thus, apart of these people. No matter their clichés, all these different students were intertwined with each other.
Ryan and Sharpay had arrived but soon separated. Sharpay stayed low-key (for the time being) with Zeke and Ryan…well, Ryan had seemingly disappeared probably to the dance floor. The group had found a table together but the couples split up, tending to rather just be with the other as the party began to go into full swing.
As eight o'clock rolled around, everyone was squeezed on the dance floor, bumping and bouncing to the musical beats.
"Don't forget all you Wildcats, sign up with me for the Karaoke Talent Search. Maybe you could be discovered for your talents or lack there of." The MC announced over the opening beats of Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina".
The crowd exploded into appreciative screams. Troy was entranced by the gyration of Gabi's hips. "Why have you been keeping this from me?" he shouted, fighting against the loud music.
"A girl has to have her secrets." She pressed her back to him. The two swayed, rocked, and anything else a couple could do on the dance floor short of getting too passionate.
When the song ended, blending into "Caught Up", Troy spotted Adele, laughing and dancing with some girls he remembered were on her soccer team and two who were still on the girls' b-ball team. Next to her was Ryan who placed his black hat on top of Adele's head. That was quite strange to see. After a Ciara song, Gabriella guided Troy to a table.
"This is crazy. There are way too many people on the dance floor." puffed Kelsi as she took a seat next to Gabriella.
"There are but that's what makes it!" Taylor interjected, dragging Chad.
Chad plopped down in a vacant chair. "Oh yeah. Hey, can we take these?"
Kelsi nodded her head as she took a pink and silver tiara from the base of the centerpiece. "We designed it so everyone can just grab."
"We'll I'm going to grab these huge shades." Chad slipped on the novelty sunglasses. "I must look completely awesome."
"Completely absurd." Troy said as he slipped on a plastic ring that spanned his fist; the word 'Groovy' was in mock-gilded letters.
Zeke came over with Jason who had a bottled water for Kelsi. "A Karaoke Talent Search? What is up with that?"
"I have no clue. I do know that I'm not signing up to make a complete fool of myself."
"Why not, Zeke?" inquired Gabriella. "I think Troy and I should sign-up. Do you want to?"
Troy raised then lowered his shoulders. "I don't see why not. I want to win a prize."
"And what a prize it will be." Ryan said. He was a yard away from the group with Adele and Sharpay in tow.
"Oh yeah," Kelsi smiled with a knowing look to Ryan and Adele. "Those prizes were fun to pick out!"
The hostess of the party slipped into an empty seat. "Yeah they were." Adele chuckled.
"I can't wait to see it. I just signed up for the contest." Sharpay's voice cheerfully sounded. How deceptive was that voice for its owner was a devious Drama Queen.
Taylor loudly snickered. "And you think you're going to win, why? Do you even know who else wants to join in?"
"I recognized some names but they weren't the best singers." She flipped her blonde hair off her shoulder.
"I just signed up as did Adele." Ryan informed as he stood behind Adele, hands gripping the back of the chair.
"Gabi and I are about to add our names." Troy wanted nothing more than to upstage the evil show dog that was Sharpay. If he could win the contest…the look on her face would be priceless.
"And I shall join as well." Chad stood bravely.
"That's one title that will be awarded." commented Kelsi. Kelsi, Ryan, and Adele shared in an ominous laugh. What else could be in store? Troy was oddly excited about what other embarrassing contests were, perhaps, in store.
The music had died down while the chattering hummed in throughout the evening air. A glow of lights twinkled on as the sun set more and more, fading to twilight.
"Now that the floor is clear, I'm asking all the single ladies to step onto the dance floor. This is the Single Gals dance. Guys, look out. You may just spot your next love."
"That's me. I'm going to show you how the single ladies work." Adele raced over to the dance floor.
The regularly used instructional line dance that everyone knew but really had no clue as to the title began to flow through the speakers. Troy watched as glee spread across Adele as she dance in step with the words. Her body swayed with the music as she effortless merged the steps into some dance that appeared to be so casual yet difficult to master.
Remembering how her body moved beside his caused Troy to fight off the memories that wanted – needed to be relived yet were denied by Troy's will.
The song ended with the girls making some noise as per the DJ's instructions. He watched Adele make her way over to his table and immediately, he had to get away.
"I'll get us something to eat and drink, okay?"
"All right. I'll go sign us up." Gabriella squeezed his hand before making her away to the DJ.
Chad got up. "I'll come, too. You want anything, Tay?"
"A soda or whatever you get." She turned away from Lauren, a girl from the Scholastic Team that came over to say 'hello'.
Troy and Chad made the short hike up to the deck where the food was set.
"I know something's up. You were in Adele's room – with Adele – with the door closed. Explain."
"Chad," Troy groaned. "Nothing happened. Don't worry about that. I would never cheat on anyone. We just talked as she got ready."
"She dressed in front of you! Was that payback for you showing off for her?"
Troy turned to his friend. "Take those silly things off. I can't have a conversation with you without bursting into laughter."
"Sorry." Chad took them off, hanging them from his T-shirt collar.
"Better. She changed into her clothes while I was outside of the door. Then, she let me in and allowed me a chance to apologize. She, remarkably, agreed that she shouldn't have attacked me and accepted my apology."
"Wow. That was simple."
"She wasn't sorry about what she said…just how she said it."
"Ah…that's Addie for you."
The two boys climbed the small set of steps. They found their fathers manning the grill as a line of people stood awaiting their hot dogs or burgers fresh off the grill. Troy grabbed a plate while Chad grabbed some fruit segments.
With his plate in hand, the sandy brown headed teen grabbed a few things from the many different spreads before grabbing a hamburger roll for Gabriella and a hot dog bun for himself. The two boys got in line.
"Want to come over my house after this?"
Troy was one person away from getting his food. "Seeing as how we won't be able to stay over here?"
"Basically."
"Um. Sure. Why not?"
Jack flipped over some burgers. "What do you two need?"
"A dog and a burger."
"Here, son." Jack placed the meat on their appropriate bread piece. Troy dressed his dog, taking a bite.
"You want something, Chad?"
"No thanks, Coach." Chad placed his glasses back on.
Rodney – or as Chad knew him as his dad – choked on his soda as a chuckled struggled to escape. "Chad, no."
"What's with everyone knocking on these glasses?"
"You look foolish, Chad."
"Thank you, Mr. Miles."
"So, boys. Do you know if Adele's coming through here." Rodney asked.
Chad's gaze went to a clueless Troy and back to his father. "Yeah. It'll be somewhere near the end of the traveling play's schedule. I think November is when she said she would probably come."
"Good because we were wondering. I want to see it. Your mom won't stop talking to me about it."
"It was that good."
Troy agreed with is friend. "Really good. The acting and singing were pretty good."
Mr. Danforth began to clear the table near the grill. "How was little Addie?"
"Brilliant." Troy spoke up.
Mr. Carson and Troy's father shared a look. "My daughter did great. Though I would have preferred that she wasn't in a love scene."
The two other fathers laughed at the Miles' exasperation.
"Where's mom?" Chad asked his dad as he closed up the grill once the last piece of meat was taken off.
"Inside with the other two. Couldn't take the heat so they stayed inside."
"Lucky," Chad wiped his forehead as he dug in the cooler for two waters and two Sprites. "We're heading back. See you later, dad…Coach…Mr. Miles."
Troy shoved the last bite into his mouth before grabbing his plate, following behind Chad. Back at the table, most of the chairs were empty and the centerpiece was stripped of its treasures. Taylor was seated, watching the people pass by. Gabriella had finished up a conversation with some drama kid.
"There you are. It's all set. I signed you and me up. And Chad too." She took a bite of her burger. "Thanks," she said once her mouth wasn't full.
"Sweet! I already know what song I want to do."
The song "Dance, Dance" bled into "Get Low" which caused Taylor to jump up, soda can still in hand. "Let's go, Chad."
"How'd you know this was my song?" He grabbed her soda and placed it on the table. "Watch our drinks?"
Gabriella giggled. "Sure,"
"I'm glad I came." Troy settled back into his seat.
"Good." She crunched on a carrot. "I can assume that you talked with Addie?"
Troy nodded his head. "I did. We apologized for the fighting but I chickened out on the whole 'telling her how I felt' part."
"Troy,"
"I know. I should have. I will soon. Just not yet. I don't want to ruin this party for her or her stay."
"Then, that means you'll never tell her. If you don't want to make her last weeks miserable, then that obviously means you're not going to tell her who you felt those months ago."
"You're right." Troy laughed. "But that's not your worry."
"You're worries are my worries. I love you and I want to help."
Troy kissed her temple. "You're too sweet."
They sat in silence, letting the surroundings wrap around them. Once again, Troy's friends trickled back to the table. Everyone was seated, talking rapidly about their current experience at the party.
"I'm shocked at the amount of people here. There's gotta be close to a hundred people here." Zeke's eyes darted across the expanse of the yard.
"I know but seeing them all here just doesn't seem like much." Ryan sipped some water from Sharpay's bottle.
Yet again, the DJ's voice boomed. "I hope I didn't make you couples out there feel bad by neglecting you all. It's couples only dance. If you're not a couple, I suggest clearing my dance floor."
"Oh, now you guys are going to leave us." Adele pouted.
"Not our fault that no one wanted to be your date." Sharpay said sweetly.
Ryan furrowed his brow. "Enough, Sharpay. Go dance, now."
"What?"
Zeke grabbed her hand. "You heard your brother. Let's go."
"I hope you guys like the song I chose!" Adele called after the four couples.
Glancing over his shoulder, Troy noticed how close Ryan and Adele were even though she sat in Sharpay's now vacant seat. Was she interested in Ryan? He was relatively okay with her dating that Italian guy but to be Ryan Evans' girlfriend was a different thing. Like Mr. Carson, Troy wasn't comfortable with seeing Adele with other guys. He was especially uncomfortable with seeing Adele replace Ryan's hat on his head.
"The theme song from Footloose! You chose 'Footloose' as a couple's dance song?" Chad questioned.
"Yes, we'll you liked it. I saw all you guys. It was fun."
He had to admit that it was fun dancing to 'Footloose'. "Not that fun."
"Every Time We Touch" started playing.
"Come on, girls. Come dance with me. Leave the boys behind." Adele suggested.
"Doesn't take too much to get me to that floor." Taylor smiled, grabbing Gabi's hand, who pulled Sharpay along.
"Oh poor Addie." Kelsi joked as she looked upon Adele's face. "I know you didn't want her to come too. So, I'll come with you."
"You're a saint."
The girls danced and jumped around in a group on the outskirts of the dance floor. The guys began to chat but soon the topic of choice was basketball.
Ryan stood, fixing his hat. "I don't have much to say about sports so I'll be heading off."
A few minutes later, the basketball team found each other. They stood around, observing the people dancing – making fun of or admiring the dance styles.
A massive circle formed and the onlookers were clapping, hooting, and screaming their surprise at whoever was in the circle. Troy, as captain, made the executive decision to go see what the fuss was about. He should have known before seeing.
It was Adele and Ryan doing some pairs dance. "It's like an infusion of salsa, tango, and basic ballroom dancing."
"Walter, stop with that. You make us wonder." Anderson laughed.
Troy had his eyes glued to the two. It was official. Something had to be going on between them two. And Troy had the need to wring Ryan's neck. "Are Adele and Ryan dating?"
"What? I don't think so." Zeke said, his eyes still on the dancing couple.
"You're looking way too much into it." Chad simply said.
That wasn't enough. "Jason?"
"Kelsi told me earlier – when I called – that she sort of wished she had stayed in school."
"Why?"
Jason scratched his shoulder. "She said she felt like a third wheel. She said that those two were constantly flirting…if they knew it or not. Maybe they are."
That was enough. He pivoted on his feet, storming over to the deck.
"What's going on over there?"
Troy glanced towards the corner where three chairs were set up, a dad in each. "Nothing too much. Just Adele and Ryan Evans dancing in pairs."
"What?" Mr. Carson stood. "Well, shit, why do you care?"
Miles Carson's bluntness was cutting but honest. Why did he care who she danced with?
Why couldn't he just escape her and the past she created with him? Everywhere he turned either she was there or she was being talked about. Constantly, he had to hear about all the things that peopled had loved about her…all the things he loved about her. Before her father had a chance to escalate to anything he wasn't ready or willing to hear about, Troy headed back to the party. As he set his foot on the step, Adele came rushing up, halting right before she rammed into him.
"Hey, Troy! Sorry for almost running you over."
He made sure to not look her in the eyes. "No worries. I'm going back to the party."
"You look like you need a drink of something."
Got some hard liquor, he bitterly thought. "I guess." His mind shouted for him to get going but his heart won over his body. He stepped back up to the deck and yanked out some juice that was left at the bottom of the melted ice.
"Thanks," Her smile was still endearing to him. "And thanks to Jack and Rodney for the help." She rushed over to them, giving them both hugs. "Come find me before you leave. I've got something for your troubles."
"Don't worry about it." Chad's dad took a sip from his beer.
Leaning against the railing of the deck, Troy observed the night sky. He mentally calmed himself as Adele stood by him. "I'm glad you came."
"I am too." He grinned to the universe. But his calm was destroyed as the opening drums and brief bit of banjo threw him back to 2003.
The effects were still the same – surprisingly. The dance floor was barren. Everyone who knew the significance of the song fled to their seats, dragging those who didn't with them. It felt as if all eyes were on him and Adele, waiting to see what was going to happen between the former lovers.
"Are you telling me that people still react that way?" Miles came over to the teens, looking out at the guests who uncomfortably stood around.
"Someone must have requested it because that was not on the approved playlist." Adele's voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"Who? And I want to know why they can't dance to it. 'Breathing' is no longer our song." Troy tried to rationalize.
"It will always be our song. It would have been better if you hadn't made it apparent to the whole school that that song was ours and ours exclusively. Making that announcement a winter formal was sweet but well…you see now." Adele wrapped fingers in her ponytail.
"Don't worry." Jack came over to his son. "Just let it go. Both of you just let it go."
That was a hard thing to do. The song took years to finally end. Troy wasn't aware of the song that played next, all he saw was Gabriella coming towards him. His stomach twisted and churned. Had she over heard something?
"Where's the restroom?"
"There's one downstairs, straight through the kitchen and the right door. But, could you go get the big box in my room? That's where all the prizes are so…yeah…" Adele kept her eyes on her fidgeting fingers.
Once Gabi was out of earshot, Adele sighed. "I hate that song."
"All contestants for karaoke come now to choose your song."
Adele went down to the DJ station first with Troy waiting for Gabriella. When she came back, it was apparent that she wasn't happy. Gabriella dropped the box by Troy. "I'm not singing."
"What? Why not?" Troy was genuinely shocked.
"I don't want to sing." She stormed passed him. Had he done something? What the hell was going on? He trudged over to the DJ station.
"Yo, man. Gabriella doesn't want to sing anymore. And neither do I."
The MC took their names off the list. He dashed off, scanning the crowd for Gabriella. She was standing near the very back of the yard where no one had ventured. The lights from the party were dimmed here. She stood with her back to Troy.
"Can you come get me, please? I want to come home. I'm tired and I don't think I would be too much fun at a sleepover right now."
"No," Troy grabbed her hand. She looked over her shoulder.
"It'll be easy to spot since it's the house with all the cars. See you soon." She hung up her phone. "A friend let me borrow it."
"Who? You don't have to leave. Stay. I want to know what's wrong."
"Not here. Not now. I don't want to ruin anything else for you. We'll talk tomorrow." Gabriella breezed passed him. Troy watched her leave, handing her phone over to Sharpay who slipped it into her purse.
"That bitch." He muttered. Nothing could get his legs to move. Not the horrible screeches of those delusional enough to believe they have singing talent nor Chad's rendition of "If You Wanna Be My Lover". He vaguely heard voices he recognized. Ryan? Alec from his Ceramics class? Sharpay…
That person had no soul. Why did he think he could befriend her after the hell she put him through? Why did he think that she would forgive him for what he did? Troy started to think that maybe he and girls could never function properly together.
"What could have happened now?"
And, if by fate, Troy's ears perked to Adele's rich singing voice. "Turn Around (Total Eclipse of the Heart)" was one of two songs she auditioned with when she applied to the Institute.
It all began with her. The fights and the doubt and the confusion all began with her. It ended with her. The residual heat of anger and the memories and the heartache all ended with her. Troy couldn't wrap his head around it anymore. He stayed by himself through the Talent Search winner's announcement. He knew either Ryan or Adele would get it and since this was Adele's party…she couldn't win.
He stayed alone, staring off into space above through the mock awards ceremony where people were crowned for the silliest of reasons and the five prize winners who had a red dot under their chair. He remained silent even through the end of the party where everyone who hadn't received a small trophy or gift was handed some item.
"There you are. People have been looking for you and Gabriella. That is until she pulled Taylor aside to get her overnight bag. Why'd she leave?" Chad was approaching him.
Troy shrugged wearily. "She left."
"Oh. Well, can you believe that I won Best Performance without Much Sense Award. Everyone else got those Polaroid cameras that take sticker photos. I guess Mr. Miles had an overabundance of them from the deal he got advertising Polaroid at the arena."
"Yeah. I think I'm just going to head home and go to sleep."
Chad swatted at a buzzing bug. "You sure?"
"Yeah."
"I guess you don't want to hear what I found out a few moments ago."
Racking his fingers from the nape of his neck to the front of his head, Troy wasn't sure if he wanted to know.
"Sharpay requested the song."
"I'm not surprised. We both knew she was going to get back at me for stepping up to her and for everything else she blames me for."
Chad clapped his best friend on the back. "I'm sorry. I hope this all gets settled. See you later."
Troy wasn't sure how much time passed before his father was calling his name to go home. He got in his car and followed his parents home, numb to everything that had happened. Adele was moving on in front of him without any inkling of remorse or care for Troy. His fellow students still acknowledging that there was a Troy and Adele. The song running through his mind. Adele's wonderful voice. The look in Gabriella's eyes and the tremble in her voice when she was talking to her mother…it all haunted him.
His mom gave him his gift bag of thanks for helping out. They all said their goodnights and went to bed…except for Troy who sat up in his bed, staring at the contents of the bag. The Wildcats shirt he gave her, a copy of their two songs he burned for her, a stuffed bear he won for her when the state fair came through, and a few other trinkets he had given her.
"So we finally do this. We finally give back each others things." He dug through the dark nooks and crannies of his closet in search of her things. He hummed a tune before singing softly to himself.
"I'm finding my way back to sanity, again.
Though I really don't know what I'm going to do when I get there.
Take a breath and hold on tight.
Spin around one more time and gracefully fall back to the arms of grace."
He packed them carefully into the bag. Her CDs, her books, and some pictures were all put into the bag she gave him. The song that sprung from his lips was their song but a good song.
"I'm looking past the shadows in my mind into the truth
And I'm trying to identify the voices in my head.
God, I wish it were you."
Crawling into bed, Troy looked over at the bag sitting on the desk. He would drop it off tomorrow. Then his eyes went to his bookshelf where, tucked behind some yearbooks, the tri-photo picture frame of him and Adele still stood. He wasn't ready to give that up yet.
"Let me feel one more time what it feels like to feel alive
And break these calluses off of me one more time."
For the first time in over a year, Troy was scared. Curled on his side, Troy was petrified of what tomorrow would bring. He felt it. It was all over now. It was time for him to start facing the music.
