Chapter Thirteen

There was a knocking at the door that pulled the woman's attention away from her work of cleaning a small amount of dishes before she started dinner. She picked up and old rag, wiping her hands off before heading to the front door to see who was there.

"Why hello Chad," the woman greeted, stepping aside for the boy to come in, "How are you?"

"I'm good Mrs. Bolton," Chad answered stepping past the woman and into the house.

"How's the play going?" she asked, remembering how Troy Mentioned that Chad had gotten into the play as well.

"It's good; we just did our first dress rehearsal." He answered following her into the kitchen. The past two days, Darbus had given them the option of dressing in their costumes or not, but today had been the first day of mandatory dress.

"Well that's good to hear," She added, resuming her work of cleaning the dishes, "I can't wait to see it."

There was silence for a few moments till Chad couldn't take it anymore, "Mrs. Bolton, I've been wondering something…" he trailed, taking her silence as a means to continue, "Has Troy been acting a little…odd…to you?"

Mrs. Bolton looked up from the dishes, face softening when she remembered how Troy had begged her not to tell anyone about his volunteer work till he was ready. She turned, wiping her hands off once more, "Not really," she said, "Why, have you?"

"Well…yeah," he said shrugging, as if Troy's changed behavior was the most obvious thing in the world. "It's just…the guys on the team and I…we're kinda worried about him…you know? We just want to make sure he's…okay?"

Mrs. Bolton laughed at that, boys these days were so paranoid. As soon as sports aren't the most important thing in the world something is wrong. "You have nothing to worry about Chad, Troy's just been hanging out with one of his friends more, that's all."

"He's been hanging out with someone?" Chad asked, "From the team?"

"No," she replied, shaking her head, "At least I don't think so. They've been spending a lot of time together." She laughed again, "Jack and I thought that something bad was going on when he started coming home late for the past three weeks…We were so surprised when he told us that he…"

"He's been staying out late?" Chad asked, surprised.

Mrs. Bolton nodded, "But he had a perfectly good excuse and his father and I were just happy he wasn't getting into trouble…you know…" she started, "We actually surprised him with a gift for keeping out of trouble, and doing so well in school what with the championships and play and all."

"A gift?"

"Yes, we got him tickets to go see Wicked over the three day break." She laughed, "You should have seen the look on his face when we told him he could go see it." She shook her head, "We got him plane tickets out there and back and a hotel room to stay in with two beds and two tickets to go see the musical."

"Two tickets?"

"Yes, for him and a friend of his."

"His friend?" Chad asked, not having a clue which one of the guys from the team had gone with him.

"Yes," Mrs. Bolton said walking briskly around the kitchen. She stopped suddenly and leaned against the counter, "She kept telling me about what a wonderful time they had, kept thanking me too."

"She?" Chad asked, completely shocked…Troy had gone to New York! To see a musical? With a girl!? ALONE!

"Yes," Mrs. Bolton nodded, turning to rummage in the cabinets for something, "Troy's little girl friend." She added, finding the box she was looking for and reading the back of it.

Chad's eyes widened, Gabriella went to New York? She couldn't have. She had slept over Taylor's house on Friday night…

That could only mean one thing…Troy had gone to New York all weekend with another girl…not his girlfriend…

'Oh my god!' he thought to himself…images flashed through is head of just what a teenage boy could do in the city…in a hotel room…alone with a girl all week end… Of course, he didn't think Troy would actually do any of the things he was currently thinking…most of it was a bit extreme even for a Junior…but still the complications of what Troy had done…just being alone with a girl for the weekend…was enormous.

"Chadwick?" Mrs. Bolton asked, using his whole name when she realized that his shorter name, she corrected herself, his 'cooler' name of Chad wasn't working.

It seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in, "Yes, Mrs. Bolton?" he asked, swallowing hard.

"Are you alright dear?" she asked, eyes squinting as she examined him, "You seem a bit…peckish…"

"I…I'm fine…Mrs. Bolton…" he took a breath, backing away slowly, "I'm just gonna head home…"

"Alright dear," she said, "Do you want me to tell Troy you stopped over?"

"No!" he shouted, startling her, "I…I mean, nah…I'll call him later. Later Mrs. Bolton."

She nodded her head as he left the room. He quickly ran out of the house and down the street. He had to get home to talk to Taylor immediately.

He flew through his front door, shouting a quick hi to his father before running into his room, picking up his phone, and calling Taylor.

"Hello, McKessie residence," Chad heard on the other end of the line.

"Taylor?" he asked, quickly.

"Chad?" she replied, "What is it? Gabriella and I are in the middle of stud…"

"Gabriella's there too?" he asked, not sure if she should hear what he had to say.

"Hey Chad," he heard Gabriella say on the other end.

"So what is it Chad?" Taylor asked.

"Uh…I…"

"Spit it out Chad!" Taylor ordered.

"I just talked to Troy's mom," he replied.

"And?" Taylor asked impatiently, "What did she say?"

"I…uh…I really don't thing Gabriella should…"

"It's okay Chad," she said quietly, "Go ahead."

He sighed, "His mom said that Troy had been coming home really late for like the past three weeks…"

"And?"

"And…that he's been hanging out with one of his friends…"

"And?"

"And…will you let me talk woman?" he asked getting annoyed.

"Will you stop calling me woman?" Taylor shouted over the phone, "It's a sexist and derogatory…"

"Guys!" Gabriella said jumping in, knowing that the two could bicker for a few hours.

"Sorry," Taylor said, "Continue."

"Anyway…" Chad said, rubbing the bridge of his nose with one hand, "They got him a gift for winning the championship games and getting a lead in the play…" he paused waiting for Taylor to cut him off, but when she didn't he continued, "Two tickets to go see a Broadway musical."

"Really?" Taylor asked, "I wish my parents would do that for me. When's he going?"

"He went already," he replied, "Over the three day weekend."

There was silence for a minute, "Why didn't he ask me?" Gabriella asked.

"It was Wicked," Chad answered, though he wasn't sure if that was why Troy had not asked her or not.

"…oh…" she said, almost glad Troy hadn't asked her.

"So then who'd he go with?" Taylor asked, "I don't think his parents are very musicy people."

"They're not," Chad added, "His mom just talked about how he went to New York with a friend on Friday, staid two nights in a hotel, went to Wicked on Saturday, and came back on Sunday."

"O…kay…" Taylor said slowly, not sure why Chad had to call her for that.

"She said when they got back that she kept thanking the Bolton's for the trip." He closed his eyes as there was silence on the other end, the full implication of what he had said sinking in.

"Who…who was she?" Gabriella asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I don't know," Chad answered shaking his head even though the girls couldn't see, "All Mrs. Bolton said when I asked was that it was 'Troy's little girl friend.'" He sighed, "I thought it was you at first Gabby, but then I remembered that you were sleeping over Taylor's on Friday." There was more silence, "I'm sorry."

"No…" Gabby said sighing, "It's…it's alright…"

"Gabby!" Chad heard Taylor call along with footsteps; he could only assume that Gabriella had left the room. "Chad?" he heard Taylor ask a moment later.

"Yeah?"

"Something just occurred to me an I hope I'm wrong for Gabriella…and Troy's…sake," she started, "There were…two…rooms right? In the hotel?"

Chad sighed, "No," he shook his head again, not caring how pointless it was, "There were two beds but one room…"

"Oh my god!" Taylor exclaimed, most likely thinking the same things that Chad had.

"That's what I thought too," he added.

"What do we do?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know," he admitted, "Troy disappears every day…I say tomorrow…"

"We find out where." Taylor finished for him.

"Yeah," Chad agreed.

Taylor sighed on the other end, "I'll see you tomorrow, I'm gonna go check on Gabby."

"Okay," he said about to put down the phone when he heard Taylor calling to him. "Yeah?" he asked, telling her that he hadn't hung up yet.

"You do know…" she started, "That we're going to have to tell the gang…right?"

"Yeah…" he nodded, slowly dropping the phone back on the receiver ending the call. He was completely dreading tomorrow…

A/N – So…almost done actually…I'm only planning about seven more chapters after this one…one for each day of the week till the school year ends next Wednesday. Next chapter will probably be something like what happened in the movie where Troy was sneaking away from people to go to the auditions…only it'll be more like Troy and Sharpay sneaking around everyone while they try to figure out what…who…Troy is hiding…