A week later, Gabriella drove her way from California to New Mexico to pick up her two friends at Taylor's house where they were all to meet to begin their trip. No sooner did she arrive to and stepped into the door, Chad rushed towards her with his laptop in hand.
"Gabs! Ok, so I went to one of those background check websites and typed up Troy's name and there was like four other Troy Bolton's listed as living in the US! One is in Maine, another in Kansas, another in Mississippi, and the last one in New York. Anyway, I took Kansas and Maine off the list since they were listed to be in about their forties and late thirties. So that left me with Mississippi and New York. Then, I googled his name and guess what I found?" Chad rambled on filled with excitement as his brown eyes stared and twinkled before Gabriella.
"What did you find, Danforth?" she asked with a smirk upon her face, which turned into a giggle from his antics that resembled that of a little boy.
"He found reviews of a hit Broadway show known as "Amore Bella" in New York starring a certain somebody that goes by the name of Troy Bolton! Just like that! Can you believe it Gabby? We found him! We found Troy!" Taylor exclaimed.
"Whoever said I wasn't smart must owe me an apology." Chad's remark caused the girls to laugh.
"Well, I never doubted you knowing a thing or two before Chad. I can't believe that he's found; it makes the situation that much more surreal. I didn't know it could have been that simple to find someone…but I'm really glad that we did. Oh gosh, I'm starting to feel nervous from the shock of it all. It just hit me that we're really going to go through with this, huh?" Gabriella asked with a look of mixed feelings gracing her face.
"Of course we are! There's no turning back now, not after we now know where he is. Should we begin to hit the road ladies?" the young man questioned with a smile.
"I say we shall! Gabriella, leave your car parked in my garage since we're going to be taking Chad's Explorer. Chad, grab all the luggage and put them in your car. I'll grab the maps and everything else we might need. I hope everyone ate because this is a long drive we're doing and we're keeping pit stops minimal to try to cover a lot of ground today. Everyone when you're done, make one last bathroom run and we'll be saying 'Goodbye' to this town!" Taylor said with a serious expression as she took charge.
"Yes Sergeant Taylor!" Gabriella returned with a playful salute causing the group to giggle.
Fifteen minutes later and everyone piled into Chad's Explorer.
Across the US"Another wonderful performance! It's like you get better each time its done." Exclaimed Kelsi as she congratulated Troy with a hug.
"Well that's 'cause theres an awesome composer for the show, not to mention she is a great encouraging friend of mine from way back when." Returned Troy, causing Kelsi to beam.
"Well that may be so but your acting has gotten better since East High. So, my boyfriend Patrick is bailing out on me for lunch today, want to join pal?" she asked her friend with a sad puppy face.
"Sure Kels…let me just call Pam and let her know so she could come along too…if you mind, that is…"he replied with a questioning look.
"I don't mind at all. She's more than welcomed to." Kelsi said.
"Thanks! Just give me a few minutes to call her…I'll be back" Troy said as he walked a few feet away to call his wife.
When Troy left Kelsi alone, she couldn't help but to observe her old friend and his feelings for Pam.
'Pam is a sweet girl…she's really great, but I wished he was still with Gabriella. Who know's what could have been if they would have been closer during college or if he wouldn't have left Albuquerque to come to New York. I know this whole thing is already like maybe four or five years old but I'm sure they would still feel something for one another! If only I could help it and magically tap into a secret database of the world or have a crystal ball to track her down for him. If only I could-' Kelsi's thoughts were interrupted as Troy walked towards her again.
"Pam can't make it…apparently the office is overloaded again and there's no way she can get out. So I guess its going to be just you and me." Troy said as he and Kelsi started to walk towards the EXIT.
They decided to walk towards a nearby restaurant called 'Dove Gardens' since the traffic in the city was ridiculous. Once they entered, the hostess seated them at a booth next to the windows in front. Afterwards, their waitress greeted them as she gave the menus and took their orders. When she was gone, Kelsi and Troy engaged themselves into an interesting conversation.
"So Kelsi, tell me about Patrick." The blue-eyed man asked his friend.
"Well Patrick and I met in Central Park a few months ago. I was walking my dog Hannah and he was walking his dog Earl. Anyway, it was so cliché…kind of like one of the moments in a movie. My dog and his dog walked towards each other and started to sniff each other out and next thing you know, we started talking. He was a really nice and I couldn't help but to have the urge to know more about him so we walked around together and switched numbers…we've been dating ever since." Kelsi said as she smiled from the memory.
"That's pretty cool. I met Pamela in the city too. I was waiting for a cab to come my way when she popped up a few feet away from me but still sort of next to me. Suddenly, a cab stops in front of her and I kind of let out a frustrated scream and she looked at me. I guess she figured that I was kind of pissed off that I was waiting for a while and nothing came until then but it was basically for her, not me. Then she asked me if I wanted to share the cab with her, and I agreed 'cause I really needed to get to the audition for the show now. She was sweet for doing that and I couldn't help but to ask her for at least a cup of coffee or something since she didn't have to share the cab. From there, we hit it off." Troy thought back until Kelsi made a comment.
"It's funny how you met both girls that you love in random ways." Kelsi said with a smirk as she glanced out the window and into the busy crowd outside.
"What do you mean Kels?" Troy question.
"Well ok…you met your first love, Gabriella, at a ski lodge during winter break because you both randomly were chosen to sing. You met your second love and wife because of a frustrated scream over a cab. They're both pretty random, you know?" Kelsi expressed as she noticed the thoughtful look on Troy's face as he processed what she had just said.
"You're right. I guess I'm just a random kind of guy."
"That you are because I would've never expected you to end up here in New York. I thought you would have stayed close to Albuquerque to be with Gabriella."
"Yeah, I thought so too…but I don't know what happened Kelsi. I guess we just drifted apart and had different dreams. I would've liked to have stayed there with her after college to try things out again but I knew that if I wanted to make my hopes a reality, I would have to come here and it would've been selfish of me to ask her to come along when I knew she had her life there. I couldn't of lived with myself for that one." Troy confessed.
"But you know she would've gone with you anywhere to try and make it work. Look Troy, I know you guys loved each other a lot and I get that you didn't want to practically make her feel forced to come with you even though she would have done it without any regrets to be with you, but maybe it wasn't the right choice then. I think you should've tried to see things from her point of view. In her eyes, you wouldn't have been selfish for trying to work things out by having her come with you. In fact, I think she would have found it rather sweet and encouraging that you thought there could still be hope."
Troy sat quietly and thought about Kelsi's wise words and pondered upon them.
"It wouldn't matter now though. She's probably off somewhere enjoying her life with another man since I didn't man up. I can't blame her if she is. Besides, I'm married now…not that I regret my marriage because I don't. I do love Pamela and God forgive me for saying this, but I know deep down that I still have feelings for Brie and would love to just see her again and make things work." Troy said regretting the situation from years ago.
Kelsi looked at her friend and noticed his bright blue eyes seemed dulled from the regret that she knew he must have felt at that moment. Before she could say anything, their waitress came and left them their food.
________________________________________________________________________
"Did I seriously have to ask 'what's the worst that could happen?'" asked Gabriella as she remembered the question she asked the week before.
No sooner did they reach Texas, the curly haired man's Explorer caught a flat…in the middle of a deserted road…in the rain.
"Yeah Gabs, did you really have to ask that? The irony of it all…you asked that and something bad happened. Isn't that strange? Taylor, what do you think?" Chad asked as he looked over a Taylor with a confused expression.
"Well, it is strange, that's a fact. But I guess we're going to be stuck here until the rain dies down a bit so you could change the flat. Speaking of the flat, did you bring a spare Chad?" Taylor questioned.
"Indeed I did. I came prepared just in case. In fact, I brought two spares!" he said proudly.
"You guys, maybe this is a sign that Troy wasn't meant to be found. Maybe fate is working against us because maybe there's something about him that isn't right…" Gabriella spoke out her thought.
"Gabby, don't be ridiculous. Anyone could have a flat. We were just unfortunate to get it this soon and in the middle of nowhere. Also, your thoughts are pretty ridiculous. Fate isn't working against us, Mother Nature is. Plus, fate helped us locate Troy quickly, there's a sign that it is on our side. Just give it sometime for the rain to calm a bit and Chad will get working on that flat." Taylor said putting on her best reassurance voice.
"Nope, we're not waiting for the rain. We're going to waste a lot of time doing that and by the looks of it; it isn't going to stop anytime soon. Besides, Gabriella is having second thoughts again and I think I should change it before she tries to convince us to turn back." Chad said while grabbing his hooded sweater from the backseat next to Gabriella. He glanced outside as the wheels in his head turned, thinking about how much time he had to change the flat.
"Well? What are you waiting for then?" Taylor questioned.
"Nothing. Ladies, wish me luck!" said Chad while rapidly running out of the car and opening the trunk for the spare and his tools.
"Tay, we're seriously actually truly going to do this, huh?" Gabriella asked her best friend.
"You know it. There's no turning back now." Taylor once again reassured.
Ten minutes later, Chad started to knock on Taylor's window on the passenger side, causing the girls to leap in surprise. He motioned for her to move over into the driver's seat. Once she did, he jumped into the passenger side.
"Taylor, you drive. B-blast the h-h-heaters on me w-will you? I'm so c-c-cold…" Chad shivered as he stammered out his sentence, soaking in his clothes, as the rain seemed to have absorbed him.
"Chad you're drenched! Here, let me get my blanket out of my duffel bag for you." Gabriella offered as she motioned towards he bag and retrieved a blanket, which Chad gratefully accepted.
"Thanks Gab. Alright ladies, I t-think its s-s-safe to hit the open road a-again." He said as he still managed to shiver.
With that, the gang continued on their way through Texas and towards Arkansas.
Hours after the lunch Troy and Kelsi had, he was back at the theater finishing up the last scene of his show. Once it was over and everyone had their final bows, Troy made his way towards his dressing room. He opened his door and noticed a note lying on his vanity. Picking it up, he noticed the handwriting was Pamela's and read it out loud.
Hey Mr. Broadway!
So I came by to leave you this note to tell you that your peformance was spectacular. Yes, I figured I would surprise you and let you know that I was sitting in the audience watching you. You never seem to fail to amaze me with your talent. Meet me at home ASAP because I have another surprise for you. Love you babe!
-Pam
Troy changed his wardrobe into his normal clothing and slipped the paper into the pocket of his jacket.
'I wonder what she has going on for me…' He thought as he walked out the dressing room door.