Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or anything related to it.
Feel It
Chapter 1:
"Troy, did you understand me?"
"Troy, honey, the doctor is talking to you" he felt his mother's hand rest on his shoulder and looked to the side, where the sound of her voice seemed to be coming from, "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention"
"I was telling your mom, Troy" the doctor began again, "that I will examine you in four months again" he cleared his throat and continued, this time sounding more hopeful, "And we'll see if your eyes are ready to be operated"
"Uhm" Troy tried to smile but it made his face hurt, "This mean I'll be able to see again in four months?"
The doctor kept in silence and Troy heard a softly sigh, "You're still here mom?"
"Yes honey" he felt his bed moving and his mother's hand grabbing his, "I'm still here"
Troy nodded quietly. "Doctor Jones, will I be able to see after the operation?" he asked again and the doctor took his time to reply, "You'll have 49,9 percent of chances, I believe"
"That's not good at all"
"It's better than only 20 percent" his mother tried to sound hopeful as well, "Everything's gonna be okay, sweetie"
"I want to be alone" Troy snapped rudely, "And close the door when you leave"
He no longer felt his mother's hand in his and once again the bed moved. Troy shut his eyes even though being with them opened or closed would be the same thing. He heard footsteps and his mother's voice again, "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me"
The words echoed inside his head as Troy looked down even though he couldn't see anything. He blinked twice, rubbed his palms against his eyes in agony. He tried hitting the side of his head, maybe this way his brain would start working again. The doctor put a medicine in his eyes but nothing seemed to help. Troy Bolton was blind, he couldn't see anything at all. All he saw was darkness… contour and shadows, of course, but all immersed in complete darkness.
He rested his head against the pillow, sighing deeply as his eyes seemed to get wet. Troy could not see anything, but he could feel his heart aching and his eyes getting teary. His life was over, forever.
If he knew that the Saturday he finally decided to wake up early to spend some time with his family would be his last one he'd be able to see, he'd pay more attention to the ones that he loved. Troy would not only see, but notice. Get through the superficial – it would be more than just staring.
If he knew it would be the last time he would see the light of the day, he would not come back to his bed to sleep after breakfast. Troy would go to the park or drive to the beach. He'd go see his best friends, his favorite place, the girl he had a crush the whole year… he would do everything differently.
Troy Bolton had no eyes at the moment, but his brain seemed to work, as the images of his accident popped inside his head, taking him back to that fatidic day two months ago. Drinks, cars, drunk people… everything seemed so real again and if he tried hard he could still feel the physical pain of Jensen Troop's truck smashing his body in the parking area of Debra Wilber's residence. After that, his mind went blank. All he knew was what his mom told him. He knew he hit his head against the ground. He had a broken leg and two broken ribs.
But this was ok, because now two months after his accident, Troy was completely healed from his broken bones, but he still couldn't see. He knew he shouldn't wish for it, but if he could, Troy would rather have lost a leg than his vision.
The door opened again and Troy felt a small hand pat his stomach, "Hey there"
"Payton?" he'd still find difficult to trust his ears and had to certify every time who the person was, "Yeah, it's me"
"Oh" he let out a sigh, "Come on in"
"I'm already in" his sister giggled and sat on the edge of the bed, "I'm going back to school tomorrow. Vacations are over"
"I wish I could go back to school too"
Troy sounded depressed even to himself and that made him angrier. In his entire life till now, he was never a sad person. He was the star of the basketball team back in high school, he had tons of friends, he was always lucky with girls, he was even musical... Troy had everything.
"You'll be back next semester, I know it"
"I can't Payton" he sat down straight on his bed and added sarcastically "I don't think an architect can be blind"
"The doctor told mom he thinks you can see again"
"Shit Payton, stop being so positive all the time" he rubbed his head and ran his hand through his hair, "Can't you see I'll never be able to see again? I can still feel the fucking glass in my damn eyes"
"Troy—"
He interrupted her. "Don't go on. I don't wanna hear that bullshit that I need to trust the doctors, that If I want it so much I'll see again" he shook his head, "This is just... bullshit" he roared in frustration, "You don't understand what it's like to have someone in front of you and you can't fucking see her" he waved his hand in front of his face, "Do you see it? Good, cause I don't"
"Look Troy" Payton started again, "I can imagine you're angry and frustrated and sad, but you need to believe you can heal"
"I don't fucking believe anything anymore" Troy hissed and clenched his jaw, "My fucking dreams ended the same day that shithead Jensen fucked my eyes"
"It's useless talking to you" she shook her head and stood up, "You're too depressed to even admit you need help right now. Why don't you go to the psychologist mom told you about?"
"I'm not crazy, I'm blind!" he shouted angrily, "Shit, get the fuck out of here Payton, now"
Payton shut his door hard behind her and made her way to the kitchen where her mother was preparing lunch. "I know I have to be patient mom, but he's just impossible"
"Honey, try to understand him"
"I'm trying, mom" Payton sat on a chair and cried out, "It hurts so much seeing him like this, but he doesn't let me help him. It's so frustrating"
Cassidy Bolton sat down across the table, "I can't help but think if your father was still alive he could help us with Troy"
"He couldn't mom" she mumbled and ran her hand through her hair, "I need to pack my stuff"
"Dear, actually I was thinking if you could stay this semester here and help me with Troy" she held her daughter's hand and continued, "I have to travel again in two days and I can't leave him alone"
"For how long now?"
"Just two months" she replied simply.
"No, mom" Payton shook her head violently; "I can't do this. I'm about to graduate, you know that"
"I have to work and you know that. I need to pay for your college and Troy's. And the house bills! You know how expensive is to live in a good neighborhood. I have to work harder" she sighed in frustration, "And he's your brother Pay!"
"I know and I love him" she stood up, "but you'll have to hire someone, I don't know. A nanny, a nurse… Find someone, but I can't. I have no strength to help Troy right now"
Cassidy sighed. "Where will I find someone?"
"I don't know, mom" she answered coldly but regretted her tone of voice the same moment. "Look, I can help you out, okay? I'm gonna search for someone online"
"Great" Cassidy smiled at her daughter, "Thanks"
"Yeah, no problem" she smiled back, "Troy is rude and arrogant, but he still is my little brother"
Two hours later, Payton had already found someone to take care of her brother while she was back at school and her mother travelling. Her name was Gabriella Montez, 20 years old and she was studying to be a therapist at U of A. The girl agreed to be there in the afternoon to talk to Cassidy and Payton before accepting the job.
Five o' clock sharp, the doorbell rang and Payton made her way to the door, cracking her knuckles nervously. She knew it wasn't right, but she had convinced her mother not to introduce Gabriella to Troy tonight or she could change her mind about the job.
Payton took a deep breath and opened the door, smiling at the petite brunette standing in her doorway.
"Hi, I'm Gabriella" she said shyly and smiled, "You're Payton?"
The girl nodded. Gabriella was really beautiful, Payton was sure if her brother could still see, she would be the type of girl he would definitely go for.
"Come on in, my mom is waiting for you"
The brunette stepped inside the house and her eyes travelled from the modern furniture and the light painted walls to the dark wooden floor and the beautiful contemporary drawings on the walls. Her eyes locked with a grey grand piano across the spacious living room and she smiled, feeling already comfortable in the house.
"Your house is lovely" Gabriella said politely and Payton smiled, "thanks"
A few minutes later, an older version of Payton – blond hair, big blue eyes and a nice smile as well – appeared in the living room.
"Hello" she said softly offering her hand, "I'm Cassidy Bolton and you must be Gabriella"
Gabriella nodded and Cassidy motioned to her to sit down on the couch. She and Payton sat as well, "I'm sorry my daughter had to call you in a hurry"
"No problem, Mrs. Bolton" she smiled at her, "I'm used to it"
"Did she explain you everything?"
"Yes" Gabriella nodded her head, "She told me you have to travel for 2 months and needed my help with your son"
"Exactly" Cassidy agreed.
"How old is he? Because I'm not really used to take care of small babies"
Cassidy narrowed her eyes at her daughter, "Didn't Payton tell you the whole situation?"
Gabriella shook her head and Payton smirked at her mother, "Maybe I forgot to add a few details"
"What's going on?"
"Well, Gabriella. My son Troy, the one you're going to help me with, is 21 years old"
Gabriella's eyes widened and her mouth dropped slightly opened, "I'm sorry Mrs. Bolton. Is that some kind of joke?"
"No, dear. Of course not" she replied quickly, "My son was involved in an accident two months ago and he's temporary incapable of seeing"
"Oh" she let out a gasp, "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Bolton, Payton"
"It's okay, honey. It's not your fault"
"So," Peyton began, "Troy just needs help with food and taking him to the bathroom, the rest he can do alone"
"He is really sad he can't see" Cassidy whispered like she was afraid Troy could hear her, "Do you see all the drawings?" she pointed to the walls,
"Yes, they're really beautiful" Gabriella smiled at her as she examined the drawings more carefully,
"Troy's work" his mother replied proudly, "He's studying to be an architect"
"But he's away from school now" Payton added with a duh tone, "He can't actually see very well anything he does, so…"
"And my daughter told me you're going to be a psychologist, maybe you could help Troy with his depression" Cassidy said, "He was so full of life"
"But Mrs. Bolton, I go to school every day, I can't take care of him during the mornings"
"It's alright. Troy sleeps all morning anyway"
Gabriella bit her lip. Cassidy seemed so desperate she couldn't say no. "Alright, I'll try to help. When do you need me?"
Cassidy and Payton grinned; "Tomorrow" the mom patted her hand excitedly, "Would you like to meet Troy?"
"He's taking a nap, mom" Payton said too fast and Gabriella wondered if she was actually telling the truth.
"No, it's okay. I can meet him tomorrow"
"Great" Cassidy stood up and looked down at Payton, "Pay, darling. Can you show Gabriella her room?"
"Sure" she jumped of the couch and pulled Gabriella by the hand upstairs. She climbed the stairs slowly, not really listening to what Payton was saying, her eyes were trying to study the pictures hanging on the wall, but she was being pulled too fast, maybe some other time she could see it carefully.
"Is the piano yours?" Gabriella asked curious as they walked through the hall.
"No… Troy's" she said simply, walking to the guest room and pushing the door open, "Hope you like it"
Gabriella peeked inside, the light yellow walls and the white furniture made the room look cozier. "It's great"
"Good" Payton smiled and motioned to Gabriella to follow her, "Let me give you a small tour of the house"
"Okay" Gabriella followed her, trying to decorate the order of the rooms. Apparently, hers was next to Troy's, and then there were Cassidy's and the last door would be Payton's.
"And this room?" she asked, pointing to a door that had a sign written do not come in on.
"Ah, it's Troy's studio" Payton turned back to stare at Gabriella, "That's where he finishes his projects for school and plays music when he wants"
Gabriella nodded. "Okay"
"You won't have too much work, you know" the girl told her and shrugged, "It's not like Troy leaves his room anymore"
"Why not?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "If he tells you, you'll win a prize"
They walked downstairs again and Payton showed her the rest of the house. Gabriella couldn't help but think it was a huge house for only three people.
"So, we'll see you tomorrow morning?"
"Sure" Gabriella smiled, "I just need your phone number and address" she said shyly, "My mom asked for it"
Payton laughed.
"Of course we will give it to you, sweetie" Cassidy assured her and wrote it down in a piece of paper. "Thanks so much for helping us out, Gabriella"
"No problem" she smiled again and Cassidy continued, "I'll be sending enough money for the week every Friday and I'll pay the house bills online. You don't have to worry about it"
She nodded. "Okay"
"And your salary, I'll deposit it in your bank account every Sunday"
"Sounds like a plan"
Cassidy nodded happily and hugged Gabriella, "Thanks for taking care of him"
"It's fine, Mrs. Bolton"
"Call me Cassy, please" she said sweetly and Gabriella nodded, "I'm looking forward to work with Troy"
A/N - Just something that's been bugging me for a while now! I thought I should give it a try. If you like it, don't forget to tell me. I'll be only updating if there's someone interested in reading it! Anyway, it won't be long though, just a few chapters. Let's see the response! =]
I'll be back in a couple of days! Don't forget to read "Brotherly Love" .. the Grand Finale is almost there! ;0)