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December 28th, 2027 4:00 pm Evanston, Illinois
"All of their friends and family, I'm assuming. In the envelope, there was a list of contacts in case I ever had questions. I'm going there to find out who my parents were. You guys can either go with me or I'll drain my savings and go by myself." I told them waiting for their reactions.
"You're just going to throw away everything you've worked hard for just to go to Albuquerque to meet some people you've never heard of?" My dad asked me as my eyes went wide.
"First of all, everything I've accomplished is all ready done. Basketball season ended a couple of weeks ago. School is on Christmas break until January 18th. I'll have plenty of time to go out there, met with these people, find out who my parents were and be back before school starts." I told them trying to convince them.
"What about college?" Mom asked me as I looked at them both.
I had played basketball since I could remember. I always had a basketball in my hands. A lot of colleges wanted me on their team. I had been scouted by University of Illinois, Boston College, Duke, UNC, and University of New Mexico.
"I don't know about college yet. I don't have to give my final answer until the middle of March." I told them.
"It's better to do it now than later." Dad reminded me as I looked at them both.
"Ok we were talking about my birth parents and now we got on the subject of college. I'm going to New Mexico." I told them with seriousness in my voice.
"We kind of figured you would once you found out. Do you want us to come with you?" Mom asked me as I thought about it.
"I have to do this on my own. I have to find out who my parents were." I told them folding my hands.
"I'll book you a ticket. We want you to be happy." Dad told me as I nodded.
"I know and I am. I just have to find out who my parents were. I promise I'll come back; I'm not deserting you. I just have to find out what my past is like." I told them.
"We understand. If you need anything, let us know." Mom told me kissing my forehead.
December 29th, 2027 3:00 pm
"Are you sure you have everything?" Mom asked me for the millionth time.
I checked my back pack to make sure I put the photo album I had stuffed a lot of pictures in. Those pictures ranged from when I was a baby until the present. I also packed my scrapbook my mom had made me one year for Christmas.
"I promise mom I've got everything. I'll be gone for two weeks and then I'll be back." I told her smiling a little.
"I know you will. I hope you find the answers you're looking for." Mom said quietly as I nodded.
"I don't know what I'm looking for but I hope so too." I told her trying to convince myself more than her.
"If you need anything, give us a call. We'll be here." Mom said as I looked at her.
"Mom you have to go on with your life. Don't sit around this house and put your life on hold while I'm out in New Mexico. I'll be fine." I tried again to convince her.
"I know you will baby. I'm just afraid you won't like what you find out there." Mom told me again.
"We'll see. I better go. My plane leaves in an hour." I said picking up my suitcase and headed downstairs.
"Are you sure you don't want us to drive you to the airport?" Dad asked walking outside behind me.
"If you do that, you'll be dragging out the inevitable." I told them smiling a little.
"Ok we won't. Be safe and call us every night." Dad said giving me a hug.
"I will. I love you guys. Thank you for being so understanding." I said hugging mom.
I walked over to my 2023 Toyota 4-Runner, got in before starting the engine. I listened to it turn over before backing out of the driveway. On the drive to the airport, I remembered all the good times I had spent in Evanston. I had lived in the same house since the day my adopted parents brought me home. I had the same friends I did in kindergarten; we had managed to stay friends all throughout school.
I arrived at the airport, checked in before walking over to the gate and took a seat. I took out my iPod and started listening to my wide range of music collection. I had everything from rap to country to pop. My friends all knew I was a crazy music fan.
"Flight 1893 to Albuquerque New Mexico, now boarding." Was heard over the loudspeaker as I stood up and walked over to the booth.
I handed my ticket to the attendant before walking down the walkway to the plane. I shook my head and laughed a little. What was I doing? My entire life was here in Evanston. Why would I want to go across country to find out what my birth parents were like? I was serious out of my mind.
I found my seat and plopped down in it before staring out of the window. I prayed that I would find the answers I was looking for out in sunny New Mexico.
3:00 pm Albuquerque, NM
I got my luggage before walking over to the car rental center. I walked up to the desk to pick up the keys to the car I had rented.
"Hi I need to pick up the keys for Tess DeVries." I said to the lady behind the desk.
"All right I just need your driver's license and you'll be all set." She told me as I handed it to her.
I tapped my fingers against the desk as I stood there. I chewed my gum nervously.
"I have a question for you." I said catching the attention of the girl behind the counter.
"What can I do for you?" She asked smacking her gum.
"This is my first time in Albuquerque and I was wondering where a good place to eat was?" I asked the girl.
"Um . . . a local hang out or what?" She asked me as I thought about it.
"Something that shows the history of Albuquerque." I told her smiling.
"Oh I've got just the place for you. It's called East Towne Bar. It's about 20 minutes down the road, in the heart of Albuquerque." The girl told me giving me a brochure.
"Thanks. I'll be sure to check it out." I told her smiling.
"There you go Tess. Your car is in spot 21. Have a good visit." She told me handing me the familiar Toyota keys.
I walked out the doors of the airport and went to search for spot 21. I found it with no problem and quickly threw my luggage in the backseat of the 2026 4-Runner before starting the engine and headed towards the hotel.
After I checked into the hotel and freshened up a little, I called my parents and told them I had arrived safely. They told me to be careful and wished me luck. My stomach rumbled which I took as a sign for me to go get some food.
I walked down to the front desk and looked at the receptionist. I smiled at her before talking.
"Where can I find the East Towne Bar?" I asked as she smiled a little.
"That's a good place. It's just down the street." She said giving me a little more direction before I started out of the hotel and on my way to the bar.
I found it with ease and hesitated before walking in. My eyes went wide as I quickly looked around the restaurant. I saw various pictures hanging on the wall as my eyes traveled around.
"A little overwhelming isn't it?" A man asked coming up behind me to look at the pictures.
"Just a little bit. I was just admiring the walls." I said looking up at the man.
"It's a lot of history. I'm Jason by the way. And welcome to the East Towne Bar." He said holding out his hand.
"Tess DeVries. Very nice to meet you. It's my first time in Albuquerque." I told him smiling.
"And you came here first? Wow someone pointed you in the right direction." Jason said laughing a little.
"I wanted a restaurant that had hometown appeal." I told him grinning.
"Well you've come to the right place. Enjoy your meal. Excuse me." He said walking away leaving me alone.
I walked over to the bar and took a seat. I continued to look around before the bartender interrupted me. He took my drink order befor I looked around the restaurant again.
Jason's POV
"Man Jas who were you talking to? She's a little young for you man." Chad asked coming up to my side.
"Her name is Tess. She looks really familiar but I can't put my finger on how I know her." I told my long time friend.
"Is it one of Emily's friends?" Chad asked mentioning my 17 year old daughter.
"Defiantly not. It's her first time in town." I told him as he looked at me.
"Where did she go?" Chad asked me as I rolled my eyes.
"She's sitting over at the bar talking to Zeke. Come on let's go tell the girls; maybe they'll know who she is." I told him heading over to where the girls' were sitting.
Tess' POV
"So what kind of restaurant is this?" I asked the bartender who I had found out was named Zeke.
"It's a product of a dream 5 friends had when they graduated high school." Zeke told me smiling.
"That's cool. Did the five friends go in together or what?" I asked him smiling a little.
"Only four friends went in. The fifth one was called away unexpected." Zeke said shaking his head a little.
"I'm sorry. I'm curious and my parents say it's a little disadvantage of mine." I said blushing a little.
"It's not a problem. That was over 17 years ago." Zeke said looking at me.
"That's sad. So what should I see while I'm in Albuquerque?" I asked as a picture caught my eye.
"East High is defiantly a good place to start. That's the high school my friends and I attended. Their basketball program is amazing." Zeke said smiling.
"You wouldn't be bias would you?" I asked him grinning.
"All right you caught me. My son is a player on the team along with two of my nephews." Zeke told me.
"That's cool. So who's that picture of?" I asked pointing to the picture of five guys.
"That's me and my four friends taken our graduation day. We were so carefree and happy that day." Zeke said taking the picture into his hands.
"I can't say I know how that feels. I graduate in May." I told him as he showed me the picture.
"It's one of the greatest days of your life. You feel such a huge accomplishment." Zeke told me.
"So you and your four friends? You guys look like you ruled the school." I told him grinning.
"We did in a way. All of us except Ryan were on the basketball team. Ryan was a drama dude. Chad and Troy were amazing basketball players. I used to be in awe while I watched them rule the court." Zeke told me.
"Wait Troy? What was he like?" I asked thinking maybe my birth dad and this Troy kid could be the same person.
"Everyone loved Troy. He wasn't stuck up; he was nice to everyone. He played basketball and he got into Duke on a full ride. He played his freshman year but health problems kept him from playing the rest of his college career." Zeke said shaking his head.
"I'm sorry for bringing up painful memories." I said looking at him.
"It's ok. I've got to get back to work. I'll see you later, Tess." Zeke said moving down the bar to help some other people.
I took another look around the bar before finishing my drink and leaving. I didn't look back as I ran towards the hotel. I locked myself in the hotel room and cried onto the floral bedspread.
11:00 pm (Zeke's POV)
"That was a successful night, boys!" Chad yelled as we finished cleaning up the bar.
"There was something different about tonight." I said taking a look around the table were my friends sat.
Chad, Jason, Ryan, Taylor, Kelsi, Sharpay, Kristin, Ryan's wife, and I all sat around.
"Did you ever figure out who that girl was Jason?" Chad asked him as the girls' eyes went wide.
"What girl?" Taylor asked her husband as Chad shook his head.
"I started talking to a girl earlier this evening. She was staring at the picture of the group of us after a basketball game. She said she had just gotten into town and someone pointed her to here for dinner." Jason said shaking his head.
"She seemed really familiar but I couldn't put my finger on how I would have known her." Chad said shaking his head.
"Was she one of Alex's friends?" Taylor asked looking at her husband.
"She's new in town. I don't think so." Jason said speaking up.
"What was her name?" Sharpay asked speaking up for the first time.
"Her name was Tess DeVries." Jason said as I looked at him in shocked.
"Zeke, what's wrong?" Kelsi asked looking over in my direction.
"She and I talked for like 45 minutes." I told them as all eyes came over in my direction.
"What did you talk about?" Ryan asked me as I thought back to our conversation.
"She asked me about the restaurant and how it got started. She asked me what she should see while she was in town and I told her East high. Then she pointed to the picture of the five of us after graduation." I said suddenly stopping.
"Go on Zeke. What else did she ask?" Kristin asked me.
"She was curious about Troy. She wanted to know about him." I told them. Everyone fell silent after I said that.
"Who is this girl?" Ryan asked breaking the silence.
"You don't think she could be a stalker could she?" Sharpay asked as we all laughed.
"She's a bit young. She hasn't graduated high school yet." I told them.
"Didn't Troy and Gabi have a child before he died?" Kristin asked looking at the group.
"You don't think it's her do you?" I asked looking at the group of my closest friends.
"Anything is possible. Let's hope she comes back soon." Ryan said as he stood up.
"We're going to head home. The kids are with my parents and they've probably killed them all ready." Kristin said joking.
We headed our ways. My thoughts were engulfed with the possibility of Troy and Gabi's daughter being in the restaurant tonight. I just prayed that she would come back.
They're onto something . . . Will Tess be back so the gang can talk to her? Reviews will get you the answer faster!!!