Author's Note: If anyone feels lost as to what day it is now according to the story, its Wednesday…everything that happened between Lance and Pam was going on while Troy was at the park with Kelsi. This next chapter is about everything that's happening at that same exact moment and day but with Gabriella, Taylor, and Chad.
Chad continued driving the rest of the way as they were in the middle of North Carolina. Gabriella couldn't help but notice how Chad would look at Taylor through the rear-view mirror every other minute. She smirked as she heard Taylor giving a sigh from the backseat. 'They might as well just get together already…the three of us know that they want to, so why do they deny the chemistry that's still there?' Gabriella thought to herself.
"So Chad, tell me about your family since we are staying the night there. I want to know as much as I can before meeting them." Gabriella said.
"Well, they're pretty awesome and fun…. oh, and they're loud. Basically they're extremely friendly people that like to have a good time. It's never boring with them, and if it is then it must be because someone died or something tragic. By the way, thanks again guys…you guys didn't have to agree to see my family. I really do appreciate it." Chad stated knowingly.
"Don't thank us Chad. We should be thanking you! If it weren't for you mentioning that you have family in North Carolina that you haven't seen in awhile, we would've kept on driving until we found another hotel. Now, we can just relax and have some country fun – for free. Besides, it would be nice to meet your family since you know a lot of ours." Taylor spoke up with a smile, reassuring Chad that she and Gabriella didn't mind.
"Thanks Tay, and you too Gabs. Well, we're almost there, just another ten minutes or so and we'll be there in time for the BBQ my ant Jenny told me she would be throwing for us." Chad said, smiling all the while at the thought of food.
"That was really sweet of her, by the way. It really isn't necessary for her to do all of that…"Gabriella said feeling sort of embarrassed and bad.
"Yeah but my family is just like that. They like opening up their homes with open arms to guests and you guys are special guests. Besides, its all part of the southern hospitality." Chad remarked.
The three sat quietly as 'If I Ain't Got You' by Alicia Keys began to play on the local radio station. As Gabriella's ears began to listen to the words, she lost herself in her train of thoughts of a specific blue-eyed man.
Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things define what's within
And I been there before but that life's a bore, so full of the superficial
'It makes me wonder what do I live for exactly? Do I live for my job? Do I live to help support my mother during her older years? What's my reason for living? I believe I live to love and to share that with someone special. Who could possibly be my special someone? Back in high school my heart belonged to Troy Bolton…those were the years. Did I mean anything to him at all after we separated during college? Did he hurt just as much if not more than I did? Did he care? I can't believe I just questioned if he cared! I'm sure he did…he's Troy…but it felt like he didn't when he just left Albuquerque.'
Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby, if I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings, some just want everything
But everything means nothing if I ain't got you, yeah
Some people search for a fountain
The promise is forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no-one to share with, no-one who truly cares for me
'This Alicia woman really knows how to hit the lyrics to a special place in me today. I remember when Troy promised that him and me would always be, no matter what. That was a special day but I guess that sometimes promises are meant to be broken although Troy was a firm believer of not making a promise that you couldn't keep. So what happened then? Who knows? I never needed anything special to have him prove that he loved me; just him being around all the time was enough for me to know. He always had the simplest way of making me laugh and smile…I always felt so special with him. If only I could turn back time to that night when we spoke on the phone and broke things off; wait, not even. I would rather turn it back to when we were picking out colleges. If I would've known that our fate relied on our distance, I would have picked somewhere much closer even if my mom didn't plan for me to go there. Ugh, I'm still hung up over the guy…can't believe this! I can't even deny that to myself at all. I still have feelings for Troy Bolton and still have faith that he's my other half. Why haven't I ever realized this sooner? Oh yeah, its because you've been too busy in denial about it and sticking up with your pride about not having feelings for the man you loved that left.'
Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby, if I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings, some just want everything
But everything means nothing if I ain't got you, you, you
Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby, if I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings, some just want everything
But everything means nothing if I ain't got you, yeah
If I ain't got you with me baby, ohh, ooo
Say nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me baby
'I think I need a hug…'
Just as the song finished, Chad pulled into the driveway of his family's home and honked the horn to announce their arrival. Almost as if on cue, his aunt Jenny opened the front door and ran out with a full smile on her face.
"Chad, sweetheart! You finally made it! I was starting to get worried that you forgot how to get here and gotten yourself lost! Oh, where are my manners? Hello, my name is Jennifer but you can call Jen or Jenny. You must be Gabriella…and you young lady must be Taylor! I've heard so much about the both of you!" Jenny exclaimed as she embraced each of them while Gabriella and Taylor felt amused by her excitement. "Come on in, let me introduce you both to the rest of the family. Chad, bring the suitcases in and just leave them in the living room for now."
Chad put on a confused yet hurt expression that his aunt was already ordering him around…just like the girls have been doing most of the road trip. The young ladies followed the semi-elderly woman into the house and walked through the back door in the kitchen into the patio where the barbecue was being held.
"Alright girls, this is my husband Howard, my oldest son Neil, my daughter Felicia, and my youngest son Derrick. Over here are my cousins Rodney, Lucille, Donna, and Kevin. This is Donna's son Ivan…" the girls followed her all around the backyard as she introduced them all to the enormous family. Moments later, Chad stepped outside and was greeted by numerous amounts of hugs from his family. Taylor and Gabriella watched at the sight and felt the happiness being passed around.
The crew was having so much fun that the barbecue was over before they knew it. Once it was over, Chad, Gabriella, Taylor and Jenny's children all pitched in to clean the mess that was in the backyard. When they finished, everyone walked inside and plopped down onto the extremely comfortable sofas.
"Alright everyone, settle down", Jenny said as she spoke up to quiet down the younger group of people, "Chaddy-boo, you are going to bunk in Derrick's room for the night in Neil's former bed since Neil moved out last month. Taylor and Gabriella, you ladies will have the guestroom down the hall to the left. You have your own bathroom in there and I already put in some fresh towels for you girls. Now, if you all will excuse me, I'm going to hit the sack…it was nice meeting you both. Felicia and Neil, lock the front door on your way out. Don't stay up late now ya'll, I'll see everyone in the morning." Jenny said as she exited out the living room and went upstairs to her bedroom.
"Your aunt is absolutely delightful Chad! She's even better than you described!" Gabriella said sincerely.
"Thanks…I told you she was great." Chad said back.
"Well, it's getting late so I think it's best if Neil and I get going. Besides, the three of you have to wake up early to continue on whatever it is that you guys are doing. It was nice to meet the both of you." Felicia said while walking towards the girls to bid her goodbye.
"The pleasure was ours. It was great to meet you guys." Taylor spoke with a smile. Neil and Felicia left the house, locking the door behind as they promised.
"I'm going to the guestroom Tay. Going to try to see if I could get in contact with my secretary and see how things are going at the magazine without me. If you guys need me, that's where I'll be." Gabriella said, grabbing her cell phone and suitcase as she disappeared down the hallway and into the room.
"So I guess that just leaves us, Taylor." Chad said after the few seconds of silence.
"Guess so, Danforth…or should I say 'Chaddy-boo?'" Taylor replied while stifling her laughter.
"Hey, don't even go there. Besides, she's my aunt and most families have loving yet ridiculous nicknames for everyone. Like the time I met your family way back then, they used to call you Tayluli and trust me when I say this, I will blackmail you with that." He said while pointing at her to exaggerate his point but started to smirk as Taylor scoffed.
"Whatever you say Chad…I'll leave you to believe that you're smart enough to blackmail someone." Taylor challenged while quirking her eyebrow. Before he could answer back, Taylor got up from the sofa and headed towards the guestroom with her suitcase in hand. Chad sat there confused as to why she left but deciding to leave it alone and concluded that women were the most confusing species.
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"So, that's the infamous Taylor, huh?" questioned Derrick.
"Yeah that's her. Why?" Chad asked suspiciously.
"Well everyone knows that you used to date her. Why else do you think the family seemed to have been even nicer to her than Gabriella? Besides, we all saw how the two of you kept sneaking glances at each other all day." Derrick confirmed while looking at his cousins face turn from being confused to suddenly in shock.
"Was it that obvious?" The curly-haired man asked.
"You have no idea. You still like her, don't you?" Derrick asked back.
"I don't know man…like I know that she holds a special place in my heart but I'm not sure if it's the same soft spot as before. You understand what I mean?" Chad looked towards his cousin and studied his facial expression to let him know if he understood but saw nothing but a blank face.
"Nope…not exactly," replied the country boy.
"Okay, like I don't know if that spot she's holding in my heart is because I still like or love her, or because she's just always been there and is a special friend to me." Chad explained.
"But maybe that's just it, Chad. Maybe you still love her just because she has always been there but you're confused about it because you guys are just 'friends' for now." Derrick stated back.
"You know something, for someone who is only seventeen, you're pretty smart about this stuff." Chad said with a smirk.
"It's all about studying the ladies…" Derrick said with a smirk of his own.
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"So…Gabriella, are you nervous about this journey so far?" Taylor asked her bestfriend.
"Are you kidding me? I've been nervous since I drove from California all the way down to New Mexico for this. This whole thing seems pretty surreal to me…like if I were dreaming this."
"Well you're not so snap out of it. This is really happening Gabbi…we're finally finding Troy and we're really here in Chad's aunt's house." Taylor replied.
"Tay, what do you think it's going to be like when we see him?" questioned Gabriella.
"Honestly, I don't know. We could only hope he's the same Troy as before or that he at least didn't change much." She replied while walking towards the vanity and grabbing her comb to brush her hair before sleeping.
"I hope he's everything that I remembered him to be…kind, sweet, funny, handsome, smart, sexy, considerate, trustwo-" suddenly Gabriella stopped at the sound of her friend's voice.
"Alright Gabriella, I think I get it." Taylor said cutting her off. Silenced filled the room again for a few seconds before Gabriella spoke up again.
"How do I know we're doing the right thing with all of this?" she asked looking towards Taylor, hoping in the back of her mind that Taylor had the answer.
"That's just it though. We don't know if we are or aren't doing the right thing, but we'll find out within time. That's the pure adventure and thrill of this whole trip!" exclaimed Taylor.
"I suppose you're right. Ugh, all this thinking is giving me a headache! I think I'm going to bed. Goodnight Taylor." Gabriella said as she turned off the lamp beside her on the night table.
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It was nearly midnight when Troy walked into his shared apartment. Mugsy rushed towards him, yearning to be petted. Troy reach down and picked up his dog as he began to caress his side.
"Pam baby, I'm home!" he called out but didn't hear a reply. He checked the kitchen and bathroom but found nothing. He crept near his bedroom and suddenly stopped in his tracks as he overheard Pamela talking on her cell phone to someone.
"Of course he still doesn't have a clue…No, no, no. Not at all…It'll all work out in my favor…he's totally wrapped…I got to go, the husband should be here any minute now. See you tomorrow?…Perfect!…You too, bye." Pamela spoke, oblivious to Troy standing outside the door in the hall. As she walked towards the door, she jumped back and yelped from the surprise of him standing there with Mugsy. "Troy! Sweetheart don't scare me like that! When did you get in?"
"I'm sorry babe, didn't mean to frighten you there. I actually just got in about two minutes ago. By the way, who we're you talking to?" he asked.
"Oh, um…uh…my mom! Yeah, she called me to check up on how we were doing and whatnot." Pamela lied. "Are you hungry? I think I'm hungry. How about I heat up some pizza?" she said as she rushed passed him and towards the kitchen. Troy stood there alone and confused for a moment while still holding onto Mugsy.
'That's odd for Pam's mom to be calling this late.' he thought but let the subject go although he didn't understand Pamela's sudden unusual behavior.