Troy not alone in New York

[theplaymaker]

When Kelsi arrived at Chad's dorm she was out of breath, but at least it hadn't taken her long. She still couldn't quite wrap her mind around it. Troy? Here? That was just crazy. But somehow, at the same time, so very, very Troy.

She knocked at the door and waited for him to open, debating how to greet him. Was hugging inappropriate, so soon after everything? Whatever. He'd just have to deal.

Comments

[hoopsandharmonies]

It was a good thing she didn't because he definitely would have missed the point. He didn't uncover his face just yet, massaging his eyes and his temples before dropping his hands in his lap.

Troy Bolton was, for a word, completely defeated.

"…Chad said I should try to make her jealous because that's what worked for Ryan. But I can't hurt her like that. Tell me that's a bad idea."

[theplaymaker]

"That's a terrible idea!" She was surrounded by people with terrible ideas, apparently. "That can maybe work for people like Ryan and Chad, because let's face it, they both secretly love being overly dramatic, but it's never a good idea and promise me you won't ever take Chad's love advice without checking with me first."

[hoopsandharmonies]

"Yeah, I noticed. I already told him it was a bad idea!" He held up his hands in a defensive position, but there was a funny little grin on his face. He's still not amused and really more than anything he wants to just start screaming at the world not being fair, but it was probably a good idea not to.

"…fine. I'll just have to wait." He worried at his lower lip, looking away from her again. "…everything still really, really hurts. That's okay too, right?"

[theplaymaker]

"That's okay, Troy. That's normal. That sucks, but that's normal." Kelsi put a hand on Troy's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, wishing there was anything else she could do and drawing a blank. But at least, maybe, she had gotten through to him. Made it worse for the moment, perhaps, but at least it might fix things in the long run.

"I'm glad you're here, you know. Even under the circumstances."

[hoopsandharmonies]

Normal. Usually he really liked that word, but currently he was a little unsettled. He gave her a slightly helpless grin as he nodded in response.

Time heals all wounds, etcetera etcetera. This was just going to take a long, long time.

"Yeah, me too." He couldn't help but laugh a bit though. "Somehow any time Chad and I break up with people we tend to find each other, and I think I'm just now noticing that's weird." He finally looked back, meeting her eyes. "But I wanted to see you, too. So…I'm glad the three of us are together. It'll be a good break."

[theplaymaker]

"That's not weird, that's because you're best friends. I call Ryan when I can't find a pen just to let him know I'm upset, so I think you're all good." Kelsi nodded and smiled as he finally looked at her. Maybe this could work out after all.

"You guys can go play basketball today. Show his kids how it's done. Then we can meet up, if you want, and you could sing some songs for me."

[hoopsandharmonies]

"You guys can go play basketball today. Show his kids how it's done. Then we can meet up, if you want, and you could sing some songs for me."

That got a genuine laugh out of him at least. "I'll never understand you artist types." Never mind the fact that he was technically an artist, too.

"He mentioned he wanted to show the kids how it's done. I'm totally okay with kicking his butt on the court." But he looked a little more excited about the idea of singing a little. "I think that sounds like the best plan I've heard all week."

[theplaymaker]

"I think you understand us perfectly. One of us now, remember?" Kelsi laughed, because she could see that Troy was looking forward to singing and that made her job so much easier and more inspiring. She was definitely looking forward to it as well.

"That doesn't surprise me, seeing as your other plan this week was to drive all the way to New York with your truck."

[hoopsandharmonies]

"I understand to a point," he corrected her, knowing he still couldn't bullshit her. He got up from the bench then to throw away his trash, wiping his hands on his jeans (well, Chad's jeans) before sitting again.

"I had bigger plans but those plans changed." He shrugged. "…speaking of, you don't know a good mechanic do you?"

[theplaymaker]

"I don't know any mechanic, I don't own a car. But we can probably ask some people from school. Or ask Chad about it, chances are his kids know a thing or two about cars." Like stealing them, to be honest, but she supposed they might also have more knowledge. Like illegal racing or things that she didn't just know from probably very faulty Hollywood movies. At least she was aware of cliches influencing her.

[hoopsandharmonies]

He just rolled his eyes. "All right, all right. I'll figure it out later. Not like I'm leaving right away anyway." He reached into his pocket for his phone before realizing again it wasn't there.

"What time is it? Close to Chad being out of class?"

As much as he liked Kelsi, he was anxious to have both of them nearby.

[theplaymaker]

Kelsi took that as a good moment to pull out her own phone, quickly sending a text to Chad to let him know where they were and checking the time.

"He should be out in about ten minutes, so he'll be here soon. Sick of me already?"

[hoopsandharmonies]

"Definitely not." He bounced his leg on the ground as he looked at their surroundings again. Now that he was out of his cloud...New York wasn't looking so bad.

"You're definitely coming out with us again after we hang out with his kids. Just letting you know."

now to figure out how to best handle a three-way thread

[theplaymaker]

"Well, if you're not leaving me a choice..." Kelsi couldn't help the smile, it was such a relief to see Troy being more the way she was used to seeing him again, it was like a weight being off her chest that she hadn't even entirely realized was there.

carefully...or we handwave :o

[hoopsandharmonies]

"Not a chance." He definitely felt better. It wasn't 100% and everything still felt really raw and painful…but he felt better. Tilting his head back he tried to catch the sun on his face as he closed his eyes again, stretching out his neck.

"…you're a good friend, you know that? I don't think I could have talked to Chad about all of this just yet."

I think I know! 2 in 1!

[theplaymaker]

Kelsi was about to reply to that when a voice interrupted her. "What couldn't you have talked to me about?" Chad had perfect timing, as always, coming up behind them right then and putting his hands on the back of the bench.

"Morning, sleeping beauty. I tried waking you to say good morning, but it was impossible."

YES good

[hoopsandharmonies]

Troy's eyes flew open again as soon as he heard Chad's voice and it was almost comical the way he suddenly perked up upon seeing his best friend. He at least looked a little more alive and happy, and he gave Kelsi a side-glance as he grinned.

"Sorry, sugar. I thought you knew I slept like the dead." He reached up with a hand to lightly bat Chad in the cheek. "Besides you got up too early so I decided to bug Kelsi instead."

[gottaswing]

"I know, I thought it was too early, too. But you try telling that to my professors." Chad was grinning, very readily accepting Troy's improved mood. And glancing at Kelsi to mouth a thanks to her, because he was pretty sure she had something to do with it.

"I gotta get going, are you coming with? We can get a sub on the way."

[hoopsandharmonies]

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah." He clambered off of the bench but he looked back down at Kelsi again. "I know you've got stuff to do but remember what I said about dinner, okay?"

[gottaswing]

[Do we handwave or take this somewhere else?]

[hoopsandharmonies]

[We can probably handwave it since it'd be mostly the dudes playing b-ball with Chad's social work kiddos and rendezvousing with Kelsi :o Let's start something else with someone else]

[theplaymaker]

[All the things with everybody!!!]

[hoopsandharmonies]

[WELL I want Shar and Zeke still. I'm icon-hunting for Taylor and Jason currently too :o Ryan's probably going to text Chad too while Troy's still there because he's going to go email Gabi about the break-up too]

[theplaymaker]

[Yes, yes, yes, yes!!! Everyone with everyone. What do we want with Shar and Zeke?]

[hoopsandharmonies]

[Do we want something cute or something kind of dramatic oooor hmm...also backdated something or now something?]