Chapter Text
I love you wildcat but I need to stay where I am
Everyone knows you don’t take the girl with you after high school
Son, we’ve been going to U of A games since you were a kid
The show must go on
Troy Bolton the University of Albuquerque, Basketball scholarship!
REDHAWKS
Come on Troy, it’s college we should be living!
Troy? TROY! SOMEBODY CALL 911!
You’re at Albuquerque East Hospital Mr Bolton.
Senior year came and went. Everyone set off after graduation, that was ten years ago.
The last musical started off strong but ended with a whimper thanks to the machinations of a British transfer student and the resulting rage of one Sharpay Evans.
But Juillard eagerly accepted the composer and choreographer of the show later to be known to the theatre world as the duo Kelsi Nielsen and Ryan Evans creating show after show in between Evans and his husband’s planned adoption.
For some it all played out as planned, Martha Cox studied dance and performed for several starlets and blockbusters becoming a famous instructor living in the centre of LA with her husband and kids all before the age of 30.
Managing to at least graduate, Jason Cross surprised everyone by accepting a superintendent job all the way in Alaska, another story would be how he did so well at it he decided to remain in the village with his family.
After Cornell, Chef Zeke Baylor launched his own business, opening a cafe/restaurant in his hometown of Albuquerque that soon became a beloved staple that had a very good chance of going franchise. Indeed Lava Springs has a deal to serve the products
Taylor McKessie studied Political science at Yale but put off her presidential dreams to study abroad on a project to expand ties between foreign governments and science nonprofits before she headed to Capitol Hill. She also found herself in touch with people she had expected to lose touch with after graduation such as Chad Danforth and Gabriella Montez,
Chad Danforth had a wake-up call at U of A, after improving his work ethic and becoming one of the Redhawk's top players, he decided to pursue his dream of working in the world of hip hop he plans to introduce the genre to younger generations, planning to open a hip hop themed bar in the heart of Albuquerque. Right now he’s trying to earn his rent bartending at a local sports bar
Sharpay Evans had a wake-up call of her own, dropping out of college to work at her parent's country club, she attempted to make for New York unfortunately despite several auditions including for her dog Boi she returned home upset but determined taking over Lava Springs and creating a more entertainment defined venue with the help of her husband Peyton.
Troy Bolton left East High confused and heartbroken by the loss of Gabriella but soon became determined to work things out not long after starting at U of A he joined the theatre department, but his planned dual major was put on hold after a shocking traumatising event, dropping out and dealing with the legal requirements left those close to him wondering if he’d ever recover, only to finally emerge nine months later ready for a fresh start, moving to UC Berkeley to continue his dual major and a sociology minor that led him to create the idea of a recreation centre for sports and art finally getting it off the ground eight years after East High.
Gabriella Montez never stopped regretting not returning to East High but soon focused on Stanford and when her mother suddenly lost her job, Gabriella found herself torn between college and work, she decided to change to a medical degree after finding she didn’t feel a future in pre-law but became so wrapped up in not thinking about the life she left behind or the years before that had made her so wary, she eventually went through a period of addiction, thankfully she cleared up to pass her classes but not before a brief relationship with a psychology student left her pregnant, dumped after the discovery, she became determined to quit her vice, raise her son and graduated Stanford with honours, working as both a technician and paramedic before settling into a clinic job as a paediatrician.
They are all happy enough.
The memory of the senior musical is somewhat bitter, Sharpay Evan’s performance as Gabriella is something to be desired as well as an onstage accident when she attempted to force a kiss on Troy Bolton who backed away and landed on a piece of the set, after finding Tiara Gold’s intent and manipulation, Sharpay Evans retook the stage in a night to remember but the show ended with a squeak.
Now older and wiser [as far as she’s concerned] Sharpay Evans wishes things could be different and with the upcoming reunion, an idea strikes her…