It was the beginning of October, the start of basketball season. The school was buzzing about the upcoming games. Everyone kept bugging Troy about playing or if he was going to back out, he wasn't going to back down. Troy was busy focusing on basketball and also wondering what to do for Gabi for their one year anniversary in 2 weeks. The East High try outs had already taken place and the whole team was made, it was a good one. They now have started the\\ir first practice of the season.

"Alright guys listen up! New Year, new team. I expect to go to the finals this year so I want 150 percent from every single one of you is that clear? Seniors, this is your last chance to give it your all it's now or never keep that in mind. We will play everyone in every position the next couple of days to see who goes best where. We will have to change things up since one of our players can't run as much."

Bryan rolled his eyes, "Then how did he make the team if he can't run? That is not fair to the rest of us because now we have to work twice as hard to make up for him."

Jack stared at Bryan and giving him a dumbfounded look. The rest of the team rolled their eyes. The guys who were close to Troy knew some of the new plays that were going to take place and it didn't require extra work, Troy was still going to run.

Jack: "Anyways, we will start working on the new plays today. Now let get the practice started. Chad."

Chad: "WHAT TEAM!"

Team: "WILDCATS!

Chad: "WHAT TEAM!"

Team: "WILDCATS!

Chad: "WHAT TEAM!"

Team: "WILDCATS! WILDCATS GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME!"

Jack blew the whistle and the practice got started. Everyone started to work well together. No freshmen made varsity this year, they weren't up to Jack's standards he needed this year to be the year. The new plays started to work out and everyone was surprised at Troy and how fast he could run, even though it wasn't as fast as he was. His ankle started to kill him; he wasn't used to being on it this long. He played basketball at his house but he never ran all the way up and down his court for two and half hours. Bryan gave an attitude the whole practice, Jack was starting to get annoyed.

"Okay guys hit the line, we do this at the end of every practice so get used to it new comers. If you don't touch the line and I do not see you give your all we will keep redoing it until you want to give it your all. Ok sprint! Go!"

The Wildcats sprinted their all; no way they wanted to do more sprints than they already had to do. Troy was growing tired, his ankle was screaming in pain he tried his best to keep up with everyone.

"Ok last one hit every single line on this court and back. Gut check go!

With that the guys dashed off hitting line lines. Troy was one behind everyone, he hated it. Everyone finished and he had one to go. Bryan was laughing at how funny and slow he looked. Chad, Jason and Zeke rolled their eyes. When Troy was one his last line Zeke, Chad and Jason joined him so he wouldn't have to run alone. They knew this was hard for Troy and knew he was giving it his all. They all four finished, Jack smiled.

"Good work guys and nice teamwork at the end. I would like to see everyone get along and help each other out on this team either on this court or outside of school. We are a family and we look out for each other on this team. By the looks of today I know you all have it in you to win this season and get yourselves to that championship. Now go home and get some rest, hard day tomorrow."

The team put their hands in and braked.

Troy: "Thanks for helping at the end guys"

Jason: "No problem you will get the hang of it."

Zeke: "Yeah man was not going to leave you hanging like that."

Troy got a bag of ice and saran wrapped it around his ankle. He did this after every time he played to help the swelling and pain.

A couple of days had past and the basketball team had started to come together. Making plays, passes and shots. Troy was doing well, he was starting to get used to the pain. He wasn't going to tell his dad how bad it was knowing he might get freaked out and not let him play. The next day Troy was at school he barley spoke a word and was distant from everyone even Gabi. Chad and Troy barley looked at each other not knowing how the other one was feeling. It had been a year since the accident. Everyone didn't notice except Troy and Chad, it was a day neither of them would forget. Jack could tell Troy was distant and knew why. It hurt Jack and Lauren so much how Troy would have this memory on this day for the rest of his life. After practice Troy was laying on his bed throwing the ball in the air, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Jack and Lauren came in and sat on his bed.

Jack: "Do you want to talk about it?"

Troy stopped throwing the ball in the air and sighed, "Not really, nothing to say."

Jack and Lauren looked at each other.

Lauren: "Ok well we will be out here if you want to come talk to one of us."

"Ok." Troy said with no expression. They got up and left the room.

Troy called Chad and told him to come over; this was the first time they had spoken that day. Chad pulled up in his truck and Troy was waiting for him outside. Chad walked up to him.

"What's up?"

"Are you feeling ok?" Troy said kind of uneasy.

"Yeah I am doing alright, better than I thought."

"Well come on let me show you something."

Troy and Chad went to garage; Chad had no idea what he was up too. They got into the garage and stopped. Chad thought, 'Oh hell no, he is out of his mind.' Troy took the tarp and pulled it off of the mule.

Troy: "I say we go for a little ride."

Chad shook his head he got mad, "Oh no, no way man I am not going on that!"

Troy: "Chad come on we have too! We will never live this memory down if we don't face it. It has been a year since the accident and I know you are hurting just as much as I am but we have to do this." Troy was pleading to Chad. Chad just stared at the mule trying to fight the tears coming to his eyes, what he did last year was facing right in front of him.

"You will never get over this if you don't do it. Remember this was NOT your fault. I know you still blame yourself even if you say you don't. It has been a year and look where I am now. I am walking and playing basketball a year later, just like I was last year. Last year I was walking and playing basketball nothing has changed."

Troy stared at Chad, Chad stood there not knowing what to think. Could he relive what had happened last year?

"Same trail, same day. We have to do this, please Chad."

Chad looked up at Troy, "Ok."

"It will be ok nothing is going to happen."

"Ok I trust you."

They pushed the mule of the garage into the back yard and Troy opened up the gate to the woods. They got into the mule, the feeling was unreal.

Troy: "Ready?"

Chad took a deep breath, "Ready."

Troy started the mule.

Jack was sitting in the living room when he heard something start up outside. He went to the window facing the back yard; he saw Troy and Chad starting to drive off. He ran outside angry:

"TROY BOLTON!"

It was too late they already went in to the woods. Jack was freaking out; no way had he wanted what happen last year to happen again. Troy was going to have a rude awaken when he came back. Troy and Chad were on the trail they were on a year ago just driving and taking their time.

Troy: "How are you feeling?" he looked at Chad.

"Fine still nervous though. How about you?"

"Yeah I am nervous maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

Chad: "Let's turn around."

Troy stared Chad in the face, "Uh no. What you just said is exactly what you said last year. I am not turning around."

'Oh yeah' Chad thought. Troy took the trail around all the way back to his house. Nothing happened! Troy and Chad made it back safely. Troy parked the mule and they both sighed in relief.

Troy: "Honestly I feel a lot better."

Chad: "Yeah me too. Thanks for that I needed it."

Troy: "No problem. Brothers help each other out." They gave each other a fist tap.

All of the sudden the heard clapping behind them.

Jack was clapping, "Bravo way to put on a show boys. You really know how to give someone a heart attack."

Chad and Troy hurried up and got out of the mule and covered it.

"Troy I forbidden you and Dylan to go on that thing. You disobeyed me you guys could've gotten hurt."

Troy: "But we didn't! That was the whole point in going to show that we won't get hurt and to finally get over it dad. I didn't feel like talking about it I felt like showing it."

"Do you have any idea how you made me feel when I heard you start that thing up and see you guys drive off? I was in panic mode for a good 15 minutes when you guys were gone. You have no idea what that felt like, you are lucky I didn't tell your mom."

"Sorry Coach Bolton."

"Dad I am sorry too but I don't get why you're so angry. We both came back fine, it's done and over with."

"Oh yeah Troy and what if neither of you came back fine? What if Chad had gotten hurt and I would have to go explain to his parents what happened. The same thing that happened to you last year. How does that make me look letting Chad get hurt on something that hurt you? It's irresponsible."

Chad and Troy were looking down. They thought they would be feeling on top of the world right now but instead they felt like crud.

"Chad go home I need to talk to Troy."

"Yes sir."

Chad walked past Jack with head down not making eye contact.

"Get inside."

Troy sat on the couch, Jack stood up pacing back and forth.

"If you only knew how you made me feel when I saw you guys drive off. My heart stopped. I forbidden you to drive that thing and you broke the rules. The consequence for breaking those rules will result in you losing your car for a week."

"What? Dad that is not fair!"

"Yes Troy I think it is fair! If you would have came back hurt I would have lost it. You won't understand this feeling until you have kid who is hurt and you have to watch them everyday struggle just to live a normal life! It is the worst feeling a parent can have."

Jack was looking at the ground so was Troy. He had no idea his dad felt like this he also felt bad for putting him through it. Troy stood up and shared a hug with his dad.

He let go, "Its ok dad, I am fine I am standing right here."

"I know you are son you just can't pull something like that."

"I know I am sorry."

"Just don't do that again. And to make sure you won't do it again I am going to sell the mule."

"Fine with me, that thing had caused me nothing but trouble. As in this is only the 2nd time it has caused me trouble out of the million times I've rode it."

"Well I am glad you agree. Because even if you didn't agree I would still sell it no matter what you thought."

Troy laughed, "Ha well since you know since were on the same page now, is my car still taken away?" He gave the same smile he gave his dad when he fell of the bunk bed.

"Oh yeah it's gone. Nice try though." He slapped Troy in the back and walked up stairs.

"Great." Troy plopped down on the couch. Jack 1, Troy 0.

Had to throw in a Jack and Troy moment since they were in the movies! Review please!