Author's Note and Reminder: I don't own anything from HSM or Disney. I just own the character that no one likes, Pam. Oh and Mugsy!
"So Troy, are you ready for another awesome show tonight? It's the last one for the week!" Kelsi said. There were five minutes left before the curtain would go up.
"Indeed I am. You better get going…you know, make sure all the equipment is set up for the instruments and whatnot…" Troy stated.
"Yeah, you're right. See you out there Bolton. Break a leg!" Kelsi yelled as she walked out the room with a final wave. Once he was finally left alone, Troy began to reminisce on the dream he had that morning.
'I can't believe I dreamt of our first time! Talk about having a flashback…but that one is definitely my favorite one. Gabriella was just so beautiful…everything a guy would've hoped for in a girl. She was really smart, trustworthy, honest, sweet, funny, talented, gorgeous, sexy…overall perfect. How did I ever let that go, I'll never be able to figure it out. Why is she still affecting me? And why do I have this sudden nervous feeling? Why is my heart beating this fast? I remember it used to get like this whenever she was around before we started dating. It's like I feel a presence…but that's just insane. You know she isn't here. She's nowhere near here! Ugh! Stop killing yourself with these thoughts, Bolton…especially before a show! Note to self: Got to come up with better peptalks!'
Troy's head snapped up when he heard the stage manager tell him he had two minutes to get to the stage. He took one last glance at his mirror and walked out the dressing room and down the corridor towards the sounds of the applauses.
It was Troy's cue to enter the stage, singing a tune about his need to confess his love to the female star of the show, her stage name being Bella. The scene plays out that Bella is off sitting on a bench alone, oblivious of the presence of her best friend, Troy's character named Tom, while he sings a song as he stares at her from a distance. Once he is done singing, she notices him and waves him over, where they talk before they both exit the stage for the next scene.
Each time that Troy walked back on stage after each scene, he couldn't help but to feel the presence again. He knew that there were hundreds of people in the audience watching, but he felt as if only a pair of eyes from one person was staring at him. Troy felt it burning into him throughout the rest of the show until it was time for the intermission.
"Kels, I don't know what it is about tonight. Tonight not only feels different, but I feel like my performance is different too." He admitted to his short friend since forever.
"I didn't notice a difference at all, Troy. Explain what you mean." She said, furrowing her eyebrows and grabbing two small towels, one for her and the other for Troy.
"I don't know…for example, I felt myself sort of shaking while I sang. I even felt nervous! Like I did the first week that the show opened. It's just weird I guess…maybe it's just all in my head…" Troy said as he dabbed at hi forehead with the towel.
"What's all in your head?"
"Kelsi, I'm going to be honest with you…I had a flashback in my dream last night of when Gabbi and I lost our virginities-" Troy began to answer before Kelsi cut him off.
"Okay and I think that's enough time of you being honest. Thanks for the insight, Troy." She patted him on the back, making an attempt to walk off.
"No, Kelsi that's not just it though," Kelsi turned back around and listened to what he had to say, "I feel like she's somewhere around and not spiritually. It's like when your instincts or gut feeling tries to tell you something but I'm not quite sure if I'm reading it right. Like what if my dream last night meant more than just a memory? Or the feelings that I have now mean something more too?"
Kelsi stared at the troubled yet confused face that her friend seemed to put on. "Troy, I honestly don't know. Not to discourage you but maybe it is all in your head."
"I don't know…I guess it could be. Thanks for listening though Kels…I know I can always count on you." He gave her a brief hug and walked away to change into his outfit for the next scene while Kelsi made her way towards the refreshments.
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The intermission began and Gabriella could barely contain herself. From the moment Troy stepped onto the stage, she had stared at him and listened each time he sang or spoke. It was music to her ears and a source of food to her brain to have been there, soaking in his aura. If her breathing became irrational just from his distant presence, she couldn't imagine what it would be like once they are close. She thought about the man she saw, the man that she loved.
He barely changed.
She loved that the most.
The question was, did he act the same? This wasn't going to be sure of until she would actually speak to him later, if she did.
Noticing that Gabriella didn't get up from her seat when she and Chad did, Taylor reached over and shook her shoulder.
"Gabriella…come on. We're going to go to the refreshments stand."
"Uh…that's ok. You guys go without me…I'll sit back here." Gabriella rejected their invitation. She wanted time alone to think to herself and gather up all of her emotions. She felt that she was living a surreal life, taking a road trip across the country and sitting in the audience of a Broadway show that starred her beloved ex.
"You sure?" Taylor pressed on.
"As a matter of fact, I'll go with you guys…I think I need some fresh air." She finally gave in, thinking that she would worry her friends if she sat there alone.
Gabriella followed close behind as the threesome made their way through the crowded lobby. They never realized just how many people were at the show until that moment, pushing through to make the line for refreshments. The three of them stared in shock at the size of the line…there had to be at least twenty-five people ahead of them.
"Looks like we better make it if we ever want to buy your soda." Taylor said looking at Chad and led them towards the end of the line.
"This is ridiculous…lines are never this long in Albuquerque!" Chad exclaimed.
"Well then welcome to New York City." Said the woman who stood in front of them on the line.
"Thanks…" Chad said, wringing his wrists from embarrassment.
"So what brings you folks over here to the city of lights, love, and drama?" the woman asked.
"We're just here visiting an old friend of ours." Taylor replied sweetly.
"Oh, that's nice. I hope you guys enjoy the rest of the show." The woman said back, ending the conversation. The group stepped a spot up as the line slightly moved.
"Twenty four spots to go and we'll be able to get what we want." Chad sarcastically said. They slowly started to move closer and closer to the front, when suddenly a short girl with light brown hair skipped everyone.
"Did you guys just see that?" Chad asked disbelievingly.
"I know! The nerve of that girl!" Taylor said back, just as shocked as Chad. When Gabriella didn't say anything about it, they looked at her with confused expressions.
"Sorry guys, my mind is somewhere else…what were we saying?" She asked.
"The girl that just skipped!" Chad answered with a tone to say as if it were obvious. They turned to look at the front of the line again when the girl finished paying her drink and started to walk back. As she was about to walk past them, Taylor took a good look at her and the heavens dawned upon her as she realized who she was.
"Kelsi?" Taylor asked outloud, catching the girl's attention and causing her to turn around.
"Huh?" Kelsi said as she turned to the direction of the voice. Her eyes caught three people staring back at her with smiling faces. She squealed after she took a moment to remember who they were. Kelsi walked back towards them with a smile of her own.
"My goodness! Chad? Gabriella? Taylor? What are you guys doing here?!" she could barely contain her excitement as she hugged each individual.
"We're in town just visiting for the next three days or so…a random road trip actually! It's so good to see you! What are you doing here?" Gabriella answered and asked.
"Well, if you guys remembered, I came here for college and I've been here since! I actually am the composer for this show…gosh, its so good to see you all. I can't believe you're here!" She said. She couldn't keep the smile off her face and neither could the others.
"You're the composer? We should have known! The songs are pretty awesome and catchy too…just the way I remember them being." Chad complimented.
"Thanks! So why are you guys at this show specifically?" Kelsi asked suspiciously, knowing that Troy was the male lead and wondered if that was their reason for traveling to the distant city.
Taylor being the first one to think quickly on her feet answered, "We've read tremendous reviews about it and a few of the people in the city suggested it. Not to mention that we've read in the newspaper that it's been sold out quite a few times so we couldn't deny seeing it."
"Oh okay…well guys listen, I actually have to get back since the show is going to begin in another ten minutes or so…wait a minute, what are you guys going to buy?" Kelsi questioned.
"Well Chad wants a soda and Taylor wants some popcorn. I'm just in the need for some bottled water." Gabriella said.
"I'll be right back then." Kelsi left the group and skipped the line again. Moments later she returned with what each person wanted.
"Kelsi, you didn't have to!" Gabriella said, knowing deep down inside that she was more than happy that Kelsi did do it, saving her from standing even longer on her pumps.
"Nah, it was the least I can do because if I didn't, then you guys would never make it to the front in time for when the show gets back. But anyways, I really go to go back. We should totally meet up for dinner after! Meet me back here after the show!" Kelsi said before waving herself off and back to the backstage area.
The group of three walked off the line and back to their seating area, all still in shock of seeing Kelsi there.
"I can't believe that Kelsi is part of this show too." Gabriella said thinking about how surprised she was to have run into their old friend.
"I know right? But you know something…this actually makes it easier for us to get to Troy now since she works with him. I'm sure they spend time together, I mean they have to, right?" Chad said, showing that the wheels in his head we're working as they spoke.
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"Hey Troy, quick question before we have to get started again: What are you doing after the show?" Kelsi asked.
"Um…nothing really." Troy said. He didn't have any plans with Pamela nor did he have many friends besides his coworkers.
"Want to join me and a few friends for dinner then?" she asked, hoping that he would agree.
"Sure, I guess. Why not?" he replied. He didn't have a specific reason to deny her invitation.
"Perfect!" she said while exiting the room with a sly smile. "Operation Troyella is in full effect."
Kelsi and Chad were on the same page.
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The show finally ended with the actors taking their final bows and exiting off the stage.
Troy walked into his dressing room and changed into dark blue jeans, a white v-neck t-shirt, white NIKES, and a black jacket. He placed both hands on opposite sides of his dresser and stared at his reflection at the mirror hanging above it.
'You need to let whatever you're thinking go. Just let it go, Bolton. There's no need to hang onto whatever you're feeling or to even bother analyzing it because none of it matters. Its just a series of coincidences…the dream, the feelings, everything is just a coincidence.'
Just then a light knock was heard from his door.
"Come in." he called out. Suddenly Kelsi appeared from behind the door.
"You ready?" she asked, a sparke twinkling in her eyes.
"Yep. Shall we?" he said in an easygoing manner.
"Yes we shall!" she said back, happy to see that he looked like he were in a good mood.
She led them towards the refreshment stand, staring at the back of a certain curly haired man. She walked closer to him with Troy following closely behind. Kelsi tapped his shoulder, catching his attention to turn around. Once he did, Troy's eyes widened and so did a smile.
"Dude, no way! Chad Danforth!" He said opening his arms to embrace him in a man hug, instantly remembering who he was.
"Troy Bolton! It's good to see you punk!" Chad exclaimed, accepting the hug from his former teammate. Kelsi stared at the exchange, a beaming smile on her face the entire time.
"It's so good to see you! What are you doing here man?" Troy asked, realizing that the last time he checked, Chad wasn't a New Yorker.
"Just being a fellow tourist to your new home."
"Hold on a sec…Kelsi, how did you know he would be here?" Troy asked, remembering that Kelsi was the one to lead him towards Chad.
"I ran into them during the intermission when I went to buy a soda." She said as if it were no big deal.
'Them?' Troy questioned in his mind.
"By the way Kels, speaking of 'them', the girls went to the bathroom like ten minutes ago…they should be back any minute now." Chad said.
'Girls? What girls? Wait a minute – no. Chad couldn't have meant the girls. He couldn't be here with her, could he?' Troy thought to himself, a questioning look on his face.
"Alright then, I'll just wait here with you guys for them."
Not even a minute later, Troy felt a pair of eyes staring at him again…a specific presence. As if he felt the direction it was coming from, Troy turned around and saw two females walking towards the group. His mouth went completely dry as he felt himself unable to take his eyes off of the brunette beauty in front of him. His palms began to sweat and his breath shortened with each step closer that she took. Goose bumps slowly formed on his skin as the hairs on the back of his neck slightly rose from hearing her giggle at something that Taylor said.
Gabriella looked away from Taylor and stopped in her tracks when she realized that a specific blue-eyed man was gazing at her.
This was it…she knew it was time. No avoiding, no running, no hiding, no anything. It was time to face the music. The search was over and there he finally was…Troy Bolton.
Chad, Taylor, and Kelsi watched the eerie exchanged between the two and smiled at one another. They knew that the pair were meant to be reunited and were proud that they each had a small part of it and were able to have witnessed it.
Shaking his head, Troy took a step forward in her direction, bringing Gabriella out of her daze and to walk towards him as well.
They both felt as though they were back in high school, feeling unsure of what to do next and just making the situation more awkward. They nervously smiled at each other, having a conversation with their eyes.
"Gabriella…"
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The moment that everyone has been anticipating! The meeting between the former lovers! I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter and will review your thoughts and opinions about it!
By the way, I want to thank the few people that actually have taken the time to review my story so far...it hasn't been many people but I still appreciate the gesture. I'm glad that they have been nothing but positive reviews! Thanks!