Still There For Me
Pairing: Chad/Gabriella
Summary: Everyone in Chad's life thought he had it all. Friends, money, popularity. Little did they know just how bad his life really was. Until one day when someone he never would have guessed started paying a whole lot more attention to him.
Chad Danforth was a Senior at East High. He was on the varsity basketball team. He had people around him all the time. He was what you would call popular, by everyone's standards. His best friend, Troy Bolton was captain of their basketball team. He had pretty girls practically throwing themselves at him on a daily basis. From everyone else's point of view, Chad had it all. Little did they know just how wrong they all were.
Over the years, Chad had gotten very good at hiding his true feelings. If he didn't want anyone to know what he was really feeling or thinking, then no one did. Chad had also gotten very good at playing dumb, when in reality, he was anything but. Chad was a very intelligent person when it came to his studies. He was acing almost every class and in the other he was holding a steady B+ average.
Chad only let people see what he knew they wanted to see. If they really knew what was going on in his life, he knew they would all start to pity him. And that was one thing he didn't want, their pity. So, he smiled when they time was right. Laughed when it was needed and played the idiot when things were getting to intense for him.
When Chad entered school Monday morning he really wished he hadn't come today. Making his way to his locker, he winced as he lifted his books out of his locker. Every bone in his body seemed to be throbbing. He hurt everywhere. Not paying attention of his surroundings, Chad never saw her looking his way, watching as he tried not to hurt himself even more. He never saw her because his mind was elsewhere. His mind was back at home, with his Mother. He really didn't want to leave her today. Not after everything that had happened the night before. That was one of the things Chad was hiding from his friends. His home life. He didn't want anyone knowing what it was really like. Everyone at school thought he was rich and had everything he could ever want. Oh, how wrong they really were.
Chad's father was a drunk. Not only that, but he was a mean drunk. It wasn't like he came home every night drunk off his ass, but when he did, Chad knew he and his Mother were in for a very long night. And last night just happened to be one of those nights.
After having, what his father called, a "bad days work", he had proceeded to drink himself into oblivion. Before he knew it, Chad's father was so drunk that neither Chad nor his Mother had any time to react. Chad watched as he came staggering out of the living room, yelling at both of them. He threw his empty Jack Daniels bottle at the wall, watching as it shattered into a million tiny pieces. Finally focusing on something, or someone as the case was, he started towards his wife, Chad's mother. Before Chad could react, his father had already slapped her hard across her face, sending her flying to the floor. By the time he reached his mother, a large bruise was starting to form on her jaw.
"Chad, honey, leave now. Get out before he starts in on you. Please, just go!" Chad's mother begged, but it was too late, Roger Danforth had already grabbed the back of his son's shirt pulling his away from his mother.
"You lazy, good for nothing bastard! How did I end up with you as my son!? All you ever do is play that stupid, worthless basketball! While I go out to work everyday so I can keep you and your stupid mother comfortable!"
That's all it took for Chad to snap. No one called his mother stupid.
"You can call me whatever you want. Call me lazy, stupid, whatever, but don't you ever, EVER call my mother stupid! Ever!"
His father barley knew what was happening when Chad threw himself at his father, knocking them both to the floor. Chad got in a few good punches before his father regained his senses. Knocking his son off of him, Roger got to his feet and started kicking Chad in the stomach.
With every kick, Roger called Chad another name. Each being worse than the one before. Finally tiring of kicking his, Roger bent over and picked his son up off the floor, only to slam him into the nearest wall, in the process knocking Chad's head hard against the wall.
Chad only wished it had knocked him out.
"Must be to much to ask for." Chad thought as his father began hitting him in the face.
All Chad could hear was his mother crying in the background, begging her husband to stop. Oh he stopped all right, just long enough to turn around and slap his wife in the face again. Turning his attention back to Chad, Roger began pushing him further and further into the other room, all the while taking his belt off.
Chad knew what was about to happen and he braced himself for the worst.
"Please, dad. Don't. I'm sorry, ok? I never should have punched you. I'm really sorry. I promise it won't happen again." Chad was now openly sobbing. He was begging his father not to do what he knew he was going to do.
"Oh, I know you'll never do it again. I'm going to make sure of that."
And with that, Roger Danforth began beating his son with everything he had in him.
Snapping back to reality, Chad heard the late bell begin to ring. Knowing he was already going to have detention after school today, Chad took his time getting to his first class. Which just so happened to be drama. How he had let Troy talk him into taking it as his Senior elective, he had to idea. But here he was, taking drama along with Troy, Sharpay, Ryan, Gabriella, and a lot of other kids he didn't exactly know.
Trying not to draw a lot of attention to himself as he entered the class 10 minutes late, Chad closed the door as quietly as he possibly could. Looking up from the door, he saw that his efforts were lost, as Mrs. Darbus was starring directly at him.
"Mr. Danforth, so glad you decided to join us. Please, take your seat, that is, if it's alright with you."
"Sorry, Mrs. Darbus, sir."
Wincing as he slid into his desk, he looked up to see Mrs. Darbus still watching him with a very unpleasant look on her face.
"That is a detention for you, Mr. Danforth, for your being tardy. Try not to let it happen again."
"Yes, ma'am."
Pulling his notebook out of his book bag, he opened it and flipped to the pages he had been working on for a while now. You see, that was another thing he didn't want his friends to know. Chad loved to write. It didn't matter what, just as long as he was writing things somehow seemed to look better. Be it poems, short stories, song lyrics or plays, Chad always seemed to be writing these days. Right now, Chad was writing to song, or at least, he was trying to write one. He kept getting stuck after the first verse and chorus.
Lately
I've been thinking I had to take a
little time
About the things that we've been through
And
I don't know if I'd be here,
If not for you
To try to work things out
And you should know
that
I have never meant
To let you down
After that, Chad kept pulling a blank. No matter how hard he tried, he just could figure out what should come next. It was beginning to drive him a little crazy.
Before he knew it, class was over and he was making his way to his next class. On his way out the door, someone bumped into him causing him to double over in pain. Nearly falling to the floor, Chad tried to brace himself on the doorframe. Failing in his attempt, Chad braced himself knowing how bad it was going to hurt when he hit the hard, concrete floor. But the pain never came. Someone had grabbed his arm to stop him from falling. Looking up, it was someone he never expected to see.
Gabriella Montez.
Looking into her eyes, Chad could only stare in disbelief.
"Gabi, thanks. I mean, wow, you must be pretty strong for a girl, catching me like that and all." Laughing at his own attempt to play dumb, Chad tried to shake the feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Are you ok, Chad? You look like you're in a lot of pain. Do you need to go see the nurse?"
"No, Gabi, I'm fine, thanks. Just hit my shoulder is all. I'm good, really." Chad really hoped she believed him. He so did not want Gabriella knowing what was really going on.
"Are you sure? You looked like you were in pain when you came into class."
"I told you, I'm fine. But thanks for asking. You had better get to class before you end up with detention as well. I already have it, so it's no biggie if I'm late again."
"Ok, Chad, if you're sure. I guess I'll see you at lunch then. Be careful and try not to walk into anymore doors, ok?"
Laughing at her, he smiled as he answered.
"Sure think, Gabs. See you at lunch."
Turning and walking away, Chad made his way to his next class, leaving Gabriella standing there, wondering why Chad would lie to her.
"Something is going on with him and I'm going to find out what it is. He really looked like he was hurting before. It's just not like him. I wonder if he's really ok." Gabi thought as she made her way in the opposite direction. Already knowing she was in for a detention, she decided that would be the best time to try and talk to Chad again.
A/N: So, what did you think? Ever since I heard the duet between Corbin and Vanessa on his CD, I knew I was going to write a Chad/Gabriella fic. I am really enjoying it so far. How about all of you? Please, read and review and let me know what you think of it. Should I continue or not? I really think this could turn out to be a very intesting fic. All comments are welcome. Good or bad, I just wanna know. Until next time, Tootles:)
