Are you driving back to campus? [She just sounds curious. And hopeful.] You know, Troy. I think you were still ahead of everyone with figuring things out. Ahead of Gabriella, too.
No. [He's merging back onto the highway. Another five hours and he'll be in Nevada.]
I don't know about that one. [He's still upset, but at least he's talking a little.] I thought I had stuff figured out but then Gabriella--I think I based so much around us. We promised forever, so I thought--[His thoughts are sort of jumbled, so he stops talking again.]
So she told me she's not sure we're right for each other anymore.
The thing is, Troy, that you follow your heart. You always do and you have a very strong heart. You feel things are right and you'll do anything to keep them that way or make them be that way if anything feels wrong. It's kind of amazing.
Gabriella is different, you know that. She needs to know things. She needs the evidence and all of that. It's exactly what she said. She's not sure. But you are right for each other and Gabriella is smart. She'll realize that, too.
Everything was supposed to be okay. And it's not. Nothing is okay, and I don't know how to fix it. Gabriella always solves problems, I fix them. That's how things are but now she went and solved this problem but I have no idea how to fix it.
I don't know what else she needs to know other than the fact I'm so in love with her I'd do anything for her. I want to be with her for the rest of my life. [There's a beat.] …my dad's gonna be so mad at me when I tell him.
If she knows that, then why is this happening, Kelsi? [There's a watery, unamused laugh.] Everyone needs to stop calling me a prince. Princes don't lose their princesses.
And what if the world proves us wrong though? I thought the world made sense but then…everything with Chad and Ryan happened and it didn't make sense, but then it did, but it still proved everybody wrong. People are…really mean sometimes.
She will figure it out. She just is a few steps behind you. Not everyone has something that strong inside them to guide them.
People can be really mean. But Chad and Ryan are a special case, anyway. They seem to have figured it out now. Most of us need longer to figure it out.
Pianos and puppies. That doesn't surprise me. [He doesn't even think anything of it, just sort of chuckling under his breath. And because he's not thinking about it--]
Oh my God would everyone stop going on about that? [She's not angry, no, she's just flustered. The most flustered. Also not aware of Troy not thinking about it.] Did Ryan tell you?
Huh? [At least he's starting to bounce back now that he's focusing on someone else.] No, Jason told me when I asked. Why? What does Ryan have to do with it?
...nothing. [Talk about jumping the gun. She's just hoping Troy won't pick up on it. Although if it distracts him... Worth it? Possibly?] He just likes teasing me.
[...what did he miss now?] Ryan sort of likes teasing everybody though, that's Ryan's MO.
But yeah, no, that's what Jason told me. Something about building things that he thinks are really cool? Why pianos I don't know but he specifically said he wants to make really cool pianos.
Okay. Good. [It actually is good, isn't it? She'll figure that out later, for now she's just glad to have distracted Troy, even if just for the moment.]
You know, you shouldn't tell your parents anything yet. I really believe that this will all work out for you.
And does Kelsi have a boyfriend? [He's mostly joking, but he might also just be plotting something. It's hard to tell with Troy sometimes.
And then there's the parent question.]
If Gabriella changes her relationship status on Facebook, mine's automatically going to change and all of the new Wildcats are gonna see it, and so someone's going to tell my dad anyway. Even if I don't say something they'll figure it out.
No, Kelsi only has friends who are boys and friends who are girls. [Totally apprehensive about this though, just in case. She knows Troy, she knows all about meddling Wildcats.]
Your dad... No offense, Troy, but he doesn't know. You've done the right thing, I believe that. I know it's a cliche to follow your heart, but in your case... If you hadn't chosen theater way back in junior high I wouldn't be at Julliard now. You know that, right?
Okay, but is Kelsi happy that way? [Happiness. Troy's already fixating on someone else's happiness for right now because it's probably the one thing that's keeping him from breaking down sobbing again. Troy's a man with a plan. Having some form of direction and helping his friends out makes for a happy Bolton. Or, at least, a somewhat decent Bolton.]
…did you know he's still kind of giving me shit about it? Even after the spring musical and he saw everything I could do he still doesn't get it. [He mostly sounds a little wistful, mildly annoyed as well.] So what are you saying, that because of me you and Ryan got into Juilliard? I don't know about that. You're talented, Kelsi. You're insanely talented, you could have done that all by yourself.
Some people just aren't used to thinking out of the norm and when they're a certain age it seems to be even more difficult to break the mold. Look at Chad's parents, they're still pretending he never told them.
But you broke the mold back at East High. You made the drama department what it was. You gave me inspiration for plays and the actors to perform it with. And you gave me confidence. You know that, right? I'd probably have graduated still letting Sharpay... Letting both of the twins just make me make them look better. You changed things for me and for a lot of people.
Which pisses me off a lot. I told Chad we're running away together for Thanksgiving so I don't have to even look at them. [Kelsi's also going to see Troy's own small mean streak. It's pretty microscopic.] I don't have to hear "I told you so" and he doesn't have to hear "I want grandkids."
[There's a very, very long silence. And then he mummers.]
That wasn't me, Kelsi. That was Gabriella. She's the one that changed everything. [So he thinks.]
You should! Chad is all ready to run away with you right now. Who needs parents when you have brothers?
[She shakes her head even though Troy can't see it.]
Gabriella inspired it in you. But you were the only one who could pull the others along. You were the one telling me I'm playmaker. Do you know how it felt to have Troy Bolton even notice my existence? And that was you talking, all you. You weren't just captain of the team, Troy, you are the captain for all of us.
Tell Chad to stay right where he's at because I'm not even sure where I'm going.
[He's silent again, letting the weight of Kelsi's words hit him.]
…everybody treats me like I'm some kind of hero. And I'm not. I'm just…average. I was the captain but I'm not anymore. Captains don't have everything fall apart, you know? What's so special about me, Kelsi? Chad could have done the same thing.
Oh, he's getting me food, he's not going anywhere.
And you're not average, Troy. You're nice, really nice, and you try to take care of everyone. Come on, I know you like Chad, but you know he'd never have done anything like that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hoopsandharmonies "un/finished")
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 05:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 05:44 pm (UTC)I don't know about that one. [He's still upset, but at least he's talking a little.] I thought I had stuff figured out but then Gabriella--I think I based so much around us. We promised forever, so I thought--[His thoughts are sort of jumbled, so he stops talking again.]
So she told me she's not sure we're right for each other anymore.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 05:49 pm (UTC)Gabriella is different, you know that. She needs to know things. She needs the evidence and all of that. It's exactly what she said. She's not sure. But you are right for each other and Gabriella is smart. She'll realize that, too.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 05:56 pm (UTC)I don't know what else she needs to know other than the fact I'm so in love with her I'd do anything for her. I want to be with her for the rest of my life. [There's a beat.] …my dad's gonna be so mad at me when I tell him.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 06:13 pm (UTC)She doesn't need to know more from you, she just wants to know more from the world. And then she'll see that you are who she wants.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 06:20 pm (UTC)And what if the world proves us wrong though? I thought the world made sense but then…everything with Chad and Ryan happened and it didn't make sense, but then it did, but it still proved everybody wrong. People are…really mean sometimes.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 06:25 pm (UTC)People can be really mean. But Chad and Ryan are a special case, anyway. They seem to have figured it out now. Most of us need longer to figure it out.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 06:30 pm (UTC)Then what about you, Playmaker?
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 06:37 pm (UTC)Oh, I just like pianos and puppies.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:01 pm (UTC)Did you know Jason's learning how to make pianos?
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:22 pm (UTC)But yeah, no, that's what Jason told me. Something about building things that he thinks are really cool? Why pianos I don't know but he specifically said he wants to make really cool pianos.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:41 pm (UTC)Really cool pianos, yes? [Someone explain that man to her.] Does he have a girlfriend? [Subtle.]
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 07:53 pm (UTC)Okay even Troy's not that stupid. But he's going to spare her until she feels like telling him as he feels this out.]
...are you kidding? It's Jason. I don't think girlfriend would register with him right now.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 11:09 pm (UTC)You know, you shouldn't tell your parents anything yet. I really believe that this will all work out for you.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 11:14 pm (UTC)And then there's the parent question.]
If Gabriella changes her relationship status on Facebook, mine's automatically going to change and all of the new Wildcats are gonna see it, and so someone's going to tell my dad anyway. Even if I don't say something they'll figure it out.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 11:30 pm (UTC)Your dad... No offense, Troy, but he doesn't know. You've done the right thing, I believe that. I know it's a cliche to follow your heart, but in your case... If you hadn't chosen theater way back in junior high I wouldn't be at Julliard now. You know that, right?
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 11:43 pm (UTC)…did you know he's still kind of giving me shit about it? Even after the spring musical and he saw everything I could do he still doesn't get it. [He mostly sounds a little wistful, mildly annoyed as well.] So what are you saying, that because of me you and Ryan got into Juilliard? I don't know about that. You're talented, Kelsi. You're insanely talented, you could have done that all by yourself.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-01 11:54 pm (UTC)But you broke the mold back at East High. You made the drama department what it was. You gave me inspiration for plays and the actors to perform it with. And you gave me confidence. You know that, right? I'd probably have graduated still letting Sharpay... Letting both of the twins just make me make them look better. You changed things for me and for a lot of people.
Of course I'm happy, with a friend like that.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-02 12:13 am (UTC)[There's a very, very long silence. And then he mummers.]
That wasn't me, Kelsi. That was Gabriella. She's the one that changed everything. [So he thinks.]
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-02 12:19 am (UTC)[She shakes her head even though Troy can't see it.]
Gabriella inspired it in you. But you were the only one who could pull the others along. You were the one telling me I'm playmaker. Do you know how it felt to have Troy Bolton even notice my existence? And that was you talking, all you. You weren't just captain of the team, Troy, you are the captain for all of us.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-02 12:27 am (UTC)[He's silent again, letting the weight of Kelsi's words hit him.]
…everybody treats me like I'm some kind of hero. And I'm not. I'm just…average. I was the captain but I'm not anymore. Captains don't have everything fall apart, you know? What's so special about me, Kelsi? Chad could have done the same thing.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-02 12:32 am (UTC)And you're not average, Troy. You're nice, really nice, and you try to take care of everyone. Come on, I know you like Chad, but you know he'd never have done anything like that.
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