Get your head in the game.

Troy roamed around the place, nodding and smiling at acquaintances while he observed the party. He was definitely underdressed for the occasion, but he couldn’t care less. The key was to have fun, drink, and make the most out of the experience. He took a glass of wine from one of the trays being served and continued to make his way around the venue. While he was lost in thought, Troy was walking and drinking, trying to find a familiar face, until he immediately turned around and a blonde woman bumped into him. The wine splashed against his shirt, which was already unfit for the event anyway. When Troy turned to look, it was none other than the hostess herself, Sharpay Evans. "Oh." He chuckled, seeing the stain on his polo. "Well, Happy New Year to you too, Sharpay." He shrugged his shoulders. It was a good thing he had an extra plain white t-shirt in his bag from practice. "I know you're still upset with me, but I'm hoping we won't have to bring it this year." He teased, simply just unbuttoning his polo off. 

She’d briefly considered trying to hit up Tinder to find a date to the party, not because it seemed lame to spend New Years Eve alone, but because she didn’t particularly want to. Honey had been feeling lonelier than usual. With the holidays, everyone’s lives seemed busier, and she didn’t want to bother her friends to hang out with her when they had so much on their plates. Troy had been her saving grace, never seeming to mind listening to her ramble about new discoveries or frustrating roadblocks in her experimenting, even if it my as well have been nonsense to him, and she was thrilled to hear how his games went while she busied herself with a late dinner.

Hearing his voice, she didn’t hesitate to return the embrace, not minding at all. If he hadn’t initiated it, she would have, fresh from practice or not. “Just me, myself and I!” She was smiling from ear to ear as the hug broke, shaking her head to answer his question. “I’ll probably spend most of the night bugging my friends whenever I run into them.” She was surprised she hadn’t already. She almost didn’t ask, realizing he may not love his answer — but really, she had no right at all to be jealous. “Did you come with anyone?”

.

"The team, as usual." Troy motioned his head to the side, showing her the couple of rowdy men who happened to occupy a space on the dance floor. "That’s my bunch right there.” He chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed, but also generally grateful to be there. Honey felt so familiar to him that he couldn’t help but seek her out. She talked about the most complex things, and Troy was always just along for the ride. It was worth nothing in his head that she seemed to enjoy a lot of sports, thus, the two got along pretty well. "Let me get you a drink then. I don’t think I’ll be joining my men tonight. I’ve had their faces up on mine the last four hours, I’m sick of them." He said jokingly, walking themselves to the bar.

The two spent some time talking and drinking inside their little make-believe bubble, while most of the people around him blurred out of his line of sight. Troy was now opening up about the fact that he could sing, and he does actually love to sing and perform on a stage. He doesn’t usually open this topic up for strangers to know, though at this point, Honey was no longer someone he could consider a simple acquaintance. "The first time I knew I could sing was at a New Year’s Eve party, a karaoke, to be honest with you." He chuckled, downing a shot of tequila. "For a time, I had to choose between basketball and theater, and it was a crazy ride. One of the most defining moments of my life." He admitted, this time pushing a shot if tequila to her side. "Alright, your turn to share in a secret, or drink… or do both. I already forgot our own rules." Troy laughed, a bit drunk, and was definitely having a wonderful time.

.

Of course New Years Eve parties made Gabriella feel a weird sense of nostalgia. It was where everything began, really. It was how she met Troy, it was how she found the courage to sing in front of others; there was a lot of milestones that happened that fateful night during karaoke. As much as she wanted to say she wanted to go and have fun and all that, she really was going to avoid it. But it was for Sharpay and the drama department and even though she was sure Sharpay was going to say something about her going, she did want to help out. It tugged at her big heart and she wasn’t going to stay home for no reason. So she tried her best to get dressed up and head out to Lava Springs, which was a completely different wave of nostalgia. 

The party was a lot bigger than she expected and it didn’t take her long before she looked for a designated quiet spot. She hadn’t expected to see Troy and she knew she probably should turn around and pretend she didn’t, but instead she called out his name softly and took a seat next to him. “Happy New Year, Troy,” she said softly. She took the beer he offered her even though she hadn’t made her mind up yet about drinking it. As he spoke, she felt like her heart was beating so fast she was going to faint. No matter where they were in life, she always got like that around Troy. She just couldn’t help herself. “I don’t regret anything either,” she practically whispered, like it was a secret just for the two of them even though they were already alone. “It was a lot simpler back then. We really learned who we were together and I will never ever feel bad for that.” She decided to finally open up the beer can and took a sip, scrunching her nose at the taste. “Life is always complicated. It just doesn’t always feel that way when you keep good company.” She smiled at him. “Sometimes I do wish I could go back to that first New Years Eve….I wouldn’t do anything different but…I would appreciate it more. Maybe not leave so fast.”

.

"I’m sorry." He mumbled, turning to her as he bit his lips. Troy clung to the taste of cold, bitter beer on his hand, placing it on his lips as his only saving grace. He'd made bad decisions in response to the questions in his head. He was young and naïve, and he thought he was missing out on life by being with the woman he loved. Gabriella sat next to him, her warmth and incredible smile still as bright as the first time he saw her. Troy began to ask himself questions. Why? Why out of all people, have you left the only person that made you feel alive? He kept staring at her, unable to utter a single word. He was a fool in all aspects, and yet he couldn’t force himself to say anything for fear that Gabriella would turn him down. She was already doing so well in her life, striving in all aspects of her career without him.

"Sorry, I—, I still like to look at you." He admitted, catching himself from staring too long at her. Troy wanted to touch her, hold her hand, and pull her into his embrace. If he were to drop all his cards, that would also entail a confession about his past with Sharpay. He knew Gabriella wouldn’t forgive him. The thought of completely losing her hurts more than settling into this comfortable distance. Perhaps it was okay, to see her, and talk to her when happenstance passed by. This was enough, for now. "Are you with someone?" He asked, though he wasn’t really ready for her response. "My team went to visit, you know I can’t say no." Troy explained.

Troy sat just outside Sharpay’s party, trying to remain low-key as the rest of his team danced and drank themselves all night. Instead of tiring himself out, he had a can of beer in one hand while he sat on the bench overlooking the meadow. The new year was about to come, so he needed the moment of quiet to reflect on his thoughts. There was a lot of self-discovery that he had gone through, and basketball was once again his only companion in life. While he drank in silence, a woman sat next to him on the bench, and before he could speak, he heard her soft voice call out his name, and he knew right then that she was the perfect person to be with at the moment. "Hey." He mumbled. "Happy New Year, Gabriella." Troy smiled, offering a can of beer he had taken from the side.

"Just a few years ago, we were at the same party singing our hearts out." Troy broke the silence, putting the can back to his lips as his eyes kept still on the distant horizon. He was tired from the practice, and the champagne from inside the party had already consumed most of his head. It felt right to sit beside Gabriella on the outskirts of the estate, with the faint noise of the party behind them. "We were so sure of what we wanted back then, don’t you think?" He chuckled, turning to look at her. Gabriella still had the same angelic look as before—beautiful and natural—the kind of face one could only dream about. Troy knew she was doing better ever since they broke up, but his head always went back to her when his thoughts sat in silence. "You, the nerd. I, the jock. A simple equation. Who knew life could have been so complicated?" He could tell that the alcohol was getting to him. The last thing Troy would have wanted sober was to share nostalgic thoughts with an ex. She was his ex, but somehow he still kept their pages open, hoping that one day he’d be able to write again. "I don’t regret it though. Everything we’ve been through, those were still the best moments of my life." Troy confessed, sighing deeply. 

☁

“Pass, never got the whole appeal about him.” It was a funny coincidence she’d end up seeing the guy she met at the bonfire. It had been a while since then and she hadn’t thought about him much but his presence was very notable and led to why she approached him in the moment. “I thought you sounded familiar. Troy Bolton, right?” From the looks of it, he was in need of company and while she didn’t leave the house expecting to converse, she wouldn’t mind catching up with the guy. Gwen made herself comfortable in the seat next to him, already entertained by whatever game they were going to play. “Guess you never went to the doctor to check out that speaking to yourself thing like I told you to,” she joked. “Which sucks because I usually like guys who can follow orders.”

.

Troy chuckled, amused to find the pretty little goth lady he met at the bonfire a few weeks ago. She was still as snarky as before, except this time Troy could feel a warmer welcome to their shared space. "Was that an order? Maybe I could try again?" He teased, adjusting his seat a bit closer to her. Troy then touched his phone to continue with their little game. A picture of Keanu Reeves appeared, and he immediately looked at her, a sudden dignified look on his face as he mumbled the words "Smash." Troy looked so serious, as if the choice at hand was a of life-and-death situation. He looked at Gwen, anticipating the right and only answer to come out of her mouth. "Well?" He asked, his head tilted. "This is John Wick we're talking about. He's badass." He felt the need to explain because of the look on her face. 

Troy turned his body to face her. "Do you think what John Wick did is justified?" He asked Gwen, curious to know how her mind usually works. "Was revenge always the answer?" He continued to probe. He could tell that Gwen was a strong woman, and her sense of style conveyed a stereotypical meaning. Nonetheless, Troy knew better than to adhere to certain clichés. He was a jock, after all. He knew firsthand how difficult it was to escape stereotypes.

Talking to Honey had become second nature to Troy since they had exchanged phone numbers. Randomly, he’d call her on a not-so-busy night after a game, or she’d call him after a long day at the lab. They get along pretty well, with endless topics to discuss. Troy could tell that Honey was finally catching up on his dry humor, and he was grateful for the companion. Sure, he was a natural flirt, but Honey seemed to be adamant on really getting to know him. It didn’t help that his name was consistently dragged through the mud, but at least she didn’t seem to mind the rumors. They were, in fact, just mere rumors anyway.

Asking her as a date for the NYE party at Sharpay’s place was a stupid idea, so he didn’t. He wouldn’t disrespect Sharpay too much by bringing in another woman to a party where he himself wasn’t sure he was properly invited. Instead, Troy came with the rest of the basketball team after their game. He was still wearing his jersey when they came until he stumbled upon the girl in his mind. "Honey." He smiled, hugging her immediately. "Oh, sorry. Just came from practice. You with someone?" He asked, looking around, if she had a date.

"Pass." He mumbled to himself, eyes fixed on his phone as he sat on an Al Fresco dinner table, having some quality time alone. His best friend was at Taylor's, thus he found himself alone, yet again, enjoying his own solitude. In his spare time, he stares at his phone and watches random videos, and this time he found himself playing a silly game. His cellphone showed a picture of famous actress Meryl Streep, to which he exclaimed out loud, "Smash" in a dignified manner. After a couple of seconds, another picture of Winona Ryder came on the screen and someone from his back called out "Smash" defiantly, and Troy immediately looked back to see it. "Thanks for letting me know." He chuckled, looking back at their silly Tiktok game. "Alright, looks like we’re in the male section now. Brad Pitt, smash or pass?" He inquired, turning to face her. 

"It’s complicated." Troy shook his head, drinking his coffee in the middle of the afternoon. Honey happened to be spending time at the same rest restaurant, and after an hour of conversation they have lead to the dreaded topic of all — the gossip blog. "It was a good relationship, not going to lie. Sometimes I just think… maybe I won’t ever get to feel that level of intimacy again." For some reason, talking to Honey felt so easy on him. Her head leaned in, and the furrow in her brows indicates that her whole focus was on him, and it made him feel special, even for a moment. "You really had to dig deep, huh?" He chuckled, patting the book that she just gave him. Troy doesn’t normally read, but Honey was adamant he should read her recommended book. Truth be told, not even Chad could force him to read. However, Honey had that innocent gaze and bright smile that he simply couldn’t say no to. "So what’s this about?"

 @chmiclreaction

Troy didn’t like the fact that his name kept popping up on the gossip blog. He was too soft for accusations like that, and he knew he was in a phase of his life where he was still figuring out certain things. Coming from a long-term relationship, meeting new people, and seeking personal purpose was overwhelming. It didn’t help that Mavis or anyone else with whom he was involved kept getting named. It brought a bubble of confusion and frustration into his head. As usual, he was still up at night playing alone inside the court, the only place he was able to find at least a bit of tranquility in this messy world.

"Was I really your first Sharpay?" He asked, seeing her standing near the bleachers. Troy walked towards her, drenched in sweat and with a ball in hand. "Look, you know it was a mistake. We shouldn’t have done it. If you cared about Gabriella, it’s best we bury this to the ground." He sighed, shaking his head, before turning around and going back to the court. @sharpayyyyy

Troy was tip-toeing, and if she didn’t know him better, she would think that there was an undertone of jealousy in his voice. It was all she’d once wanted, for him to be envious of someone she was with, but now, it wasn’t as satisfying knowing that he didn’t actually want to be with her. His sad attempt at a joke indicated that he knew she was lying, though, and it was nice knowing he picked up her and Blaise being more than friends. “We are,” she said simply. Just like before, he didn’t deserve more of an explanation than just that. Sharpay narrowed her eyes at his chest; she knew stage makeup, and that certainly wasn’t it. “That’s not a costume, is it? Troy, what the fuck happened to you?” she questioned, stopping herself before she could reach out her hand to touch his chest. “I’m fine, the show’s going to be fine. We should talk, though, about those two players on your team who are doing the musical, because our rehearsal schedule is going to pick up next month.”

.

"It’s nothing. It’s prosthetics, don’t mind it." Troy didn’t want any concern about the riot he had voluntarily placed himself in. Seeing someone from his past was the last thing he wanted, especially with a bruised up face and a bleeding hand. The good thing was that Sharpay seemed to know that there was an invisible barrier between them and that neither wanted to show any cards about themselves. "Players? On my team?" He furrowed his brows, unaware of who she was referring to. Troy placed his hand on his shoulders as he continued to question her. "Who? And why am I only learning about this now?" There was a hint of frustration, but also the sudden realization that this was exactly what he did to his dad felt like a solid karma. It almost made him laugh.

"Are they at least good, though?" He chuckled, quite amused by the circle of life. He felt at least a bit nostalgic for the good times. "I can’t say I’m mad. I mean, that would be such a dick move given they got the idea from me." Though there was a bit of tension in the air, he was glad to have Sharpay for company once more. "It's good you're still doing what you love. Chasing dreams, huh. It's always a thing you do, Sharpay. That's what makes you cool."

Sharpay had begun her evening with Ryan, but thankfully had been whisked away by Blaise. At least he’d pointed her brother in the direction of the stick-up-the-ass employee who worked at the restaurant with him in an attempt to get him off her butt. Though Blaise also looked like an idiot, in what was probably a few-years old Batman costume, but thankfully it was too dark for anyone else to see what he was wearing. He was better company than Ryan for now, though she wouldn’t be so mean to say it aloud.

“Troy?” Sharpay nearly whipped around hearing her name, but knew better than to leave Blaise in the dust just like that. Instead, she whispered him a goodbye, placed a kiss to his cheek, and approached Troy’s table. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she said a little defensively, turning to catch a glance at Blaise walking away. “He’s just a friend. It’s none of your business, anyway.” It was a little cold, but she had nothing to lose with him, not anymore. “That’s, um, some interesting makeup.”

.

Blaise was surprised to receive a peck on the cheek, and though he enjoyed occasional flirting, he knew somehow he had to draw the line. Anything physical was a warning, and Lumiere felt that by sticking around he’d find himself in a mess he didn’t want to be in. With a simple nod and a warm smile, he decided to simply leave Sharpay before he could make a fool of himself. The good thing was that she seemed to have another company, which he did not ask any questions about.

Troy’s gaze, on the other hand, followed the other boy who left. He was certain the two weren’t simply friends with the way Sharpay’s eyes and hands had frolicked all around him. Troy knew her familiar ways, given that he was on the receiving end of it all at some point in his life. "He seems like a cool friend. You too must be very close." He teased, clearing the tension in the air with a warm-hearted joke. He knew he had done her wrong by leaving, but Troy couldn’t accept the guilt of staying. Sharpay was beautiful on her own, having the capacity to bag anyone she wanted... but with Troy. It was different. He was still too madly in love with Gabriella for anything else to happen. "Thanks, I made it." Troy touched his bleeding lip, attempting to wipe away the blood as much as he could. "So how’s it going, Sharpay? Up for the next big stage to tackle, won’t you?"

Since Troy was badly bruised from the fight he had placed himself into before going to the party to hide from the police. He sat in the corner trying to wipe the blood away from his lip. No one seemed to pay attention to him since he looked like he was in costume as a badly beat up frat boy. And truth be told, he preferred to be left alone when someone from behind touched his shoulder. "Oh, it’s you." He smiled at her, though smiling was beginning to become especially difficult to do at this point. "Yeah, I was trying to go home, but I couldn’t find my way out." He admitted, Troy noticed the look of concern in her face. It seemed like his disguise didn’t work on her, and she was starting to see that his costume was in fact very real. "Oh, Honey. Don’t worry. I’m fine…. New Salem seems to have thugs of their own, I guess."