Chapter II

Back in 2027…

It was a crisp September afternoon and Troy was headed off to Manhattan because he was assigned to take pictures of Carnegie Hall. There was already a ton of pictures of the place but he guessed that it had his editor had another reason for him to take its picture. He heard rumors of a play that is going to be held there and his boss wanted him to take pictures of it. So it was building plus play (and the person he wanted to see).

So there he stood in the busy streets of Manhattan New York clutching a ticket to the musical Evita and wondering what the hell he was doing there. But what the heck, he was broke and he needed the money, after all, his life was really going nowhere and being a freelance photographer just gave him the chance to be able to see different places, and to run away, to run from the pain.

Five years ago, everything was going for Troy. He had a job as a basketball coach, just like his dad and his family was his world. Gabriella was the loving and doting mother of their two children Troy Jr. who is following in his dad's footsteps and Lisa who is following in her mother's. Troy always thought that it won't get any better than this; but he was proven wrong when tragedy struck their family.

Troy was driving his family to their annual summer vacation at Colorado when it started to rain really hard. He lost control of the vehicle and they spun off the freeway crashing into a ditch. He woke up the next day with a few broken ribs, a concussion on his head and a busted knee. To add to his misery, he learned that no one got out alive of the crash. It was terrible, and he wanted to put it all behind him, that's why he chose freelance photography. He wanted to capture happy moments, to keep them still forever so that the power of fate could not take it away, like it did to his family.

He entered Carnegie Hall…

He sat there, at Zankel Hall and watched as Ché introduced and told the life story of Eva. She went to Buenos Aires and slept her way up to the top. As Eva and Col. Juan Perón started off their relationship, Troy had a feeling in his gut that he knew who the actress was. She was blond, she was beautiful and when she sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" he sang along with her and had tears in hid eyes.

Finally it time for the curtain call.

"For the part of Eva Perón, one of Broadway's finest actresses, Ms. Sharpay Evans!" the crowd went wild (civilly) and roses were thrown on the stage and many admiring fans went up to give her bouquets of roses, all pink.

Troy wished he could give her something too, but all he had was pictures of her. Then as if a light bulb suddenly lit in his head, he hurriedly left his seat and slipped into the backstage unnoticed and headed to the room with the pink star on the door.

It felt incredibly exhilarating to be onstage, playing the life of a character, being watched by millions of people, their accolades after each performance. Sharpay Evans waltzed towards her dressing room amidst the congratulations of the cast and crew. She had a smile on her face but even if she felt exhilarated at the moment, it was all rapidly fading away.

As she got nearer her dressing room, she felt the urge to go home at once. But there was no one at home, her husband and kids went off to Washington for the week and she couldn't come because tonight was opening night and they had performances throughout the week.

Lost in her own thoughts, she did not see the man who was standing against her door. He had dark brown hair, deep blue eyes and an expression of awe in his face as she approached him. She stopped in her tracks just in time and looked him in the eye, as she did, she could not help but go week in the knees. Those blue eyes seemed familiar, could it be?

"Bolton?" she queried, her past persona as the Ice Queen coming back to her as she stood ramrod straight, and looked him in the eye with a perfectly arched eyebrow, hands of her hips.

"Hi Sharpay, it's been along time…" replied Troy, not really sure what to say. He felt stupid for coming here to see her.

"Well, stop gaping at me like I just got back from the dead! State the reason you're here or else get out of my face!" she snapped. Past habits are hard to forget.

"I… I… I'm just got here?" stammered Troy with a frown.

"Guess, I'll just go then, uh, goodbye Sharpay, nice meeting you…" said Troy as he headed to find the exit but Sharpay grabbed his hand and dragged him inside her dressing room.

It was all pink, obviously Sharpay. She sat down at a couch on the side and motioned Troy to sit at the armchair beside the couch. As he did so, she noticed the camera dangling from his neck, she couldn't believe it went unnoticed a while ago, but then, the backstage was dark…

She couldn't help it…

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BOLTON?!?! Have you become the paparazzi now?!" Sharpay screamed at his face.

"No Sharpay, "Troy said in a soothing voice, he stood up to calm Sharpay down but she was trying to avoid him, "I'm not the paparazzi, I'm a freelance photographer." He finished. That seemed to calm her.

"You're a what, Bolton? You keep on surprising me, one minute you're the basketball star, next you're a drama king and now you're a freelance photographer, versatile much?" Sharpay asked with a smile, eyebrows arched. Her Ice Queen persona was fading fast revealing the real Sharpay Evans.

"A freelance photographer; my editor sent me to Carnegie to take pictures of it, and you I suppose" Troy told her with a small smile, his blue eyes twinkling.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sharpay asked, her eyes narrowing instantly.

"I think he's got a crush on you, he changed what I'm supposed to take pictures of to Carnegie as a last minute. Now why would he do that on any other day?" Troy said with a laugh and Sharpay quickly joined him.

Sebastian walked towards the pink door with a pink star backstage. As he got closer, he heard the voice of Sharpay and… a man? And they seemed to be having a good time inside, wondering why his star actress would be talking with another man when she's married, he knocked on her door.

Sudden silence filled the room and Sharpay opened the door, still in her costume. He caught a glimpse of the man with her, brown hair blue eyes with a camera dangling on his neck. Must be a clever paparazzi, but Sharpay hated them, so who is he?

"Something I can help you with Seb?" asked Sharpay with a smile.

"No, hon, but I gotta warn you, Carnie's about to close. Go dress up and get outta here before they lock you in" replied Sebastian with a smile.

"Oh my, I forgot the time!" Sharpay cried her eyes wide and suddenly she bustled around the room.

"Who's that guy?" Seb asked innocently yet he was scrutinizing Troy with a look of disdain.

"Oh, just an old friend, his name's Troy" replied Sharpay without glancing at him. Then she looked at Troy and asked him to step out, as if in afterthought.

Outside Troy stood with Seb while waiting for Sharpay. They both glared at each other, sizing each other up. Finally, Troy spoke up, "So are you the director?"

"Yep." Snapped Seb, he didn't like to start a conversation but Troy was insistent.

"The play was good, you're some director" complemented Troy. Seb smiled and instantly warmed up to Troy, he loved being flattered.

"Oh my, thank you so much!" he gushed, "But who are you may I ask?" he continued, "Your not Shar's secret lover or something are you?"

"What? Oh, no, I'm just an old friend from high school" Troy explained. The atmosphere between the two men relaxed a bit, Seb was assured that Troy was not an enemy.

Just then Sharpay got out and headed towards the two men carrying her duffel bag. She went up to Troy and he asked her, "So Sharpay, would you be interested in dinner with me; as friends of course", he clarified.

"Sure Troy that would be nice, we have a lot of catching up to do!" Sharpay exclaimed jumping up and down like a little girl. He couldn't help but chuckle, as did Seb…

September 9, 2027

What luck! What I thought would have been a boring week was starting to become interesting. I met up with my old crush, Troy Bolton! He was still as gorgeous as ever but the sparkle in his eyes was gone, well not entirely, but there was a mysterious flair to it…

We went to my favorite restaurant, his treat and talked all night! I had so many stories to tell him; the theater, my husband, my children, everything! I think I was a bit unfair since all he did was listen, then again, he did not say much.

He invited me to give him a tour of New York tomorrow, I said yes since we have a day off… I'm so psyched I can't sleep! XoXo

Sharpay E. A.

Note: Hey guys, I want to give this advanced apology for any inaccuracy on some details of my story, most probably about the places.. [hint hint ;) ] I hope you guys don't mind...