I don't own anything.
A/N: Okay I know it's been a long. . .long. . .long time since I posted for the 1st couple on my fanfiction mantle, and I'm sorry for that. I've really been struggling with writer's block towards this couple for a while now. I don't know what happened, maybe I just for a moment ran out of ideas. All I know is, this story is the one that really lasted. I won't even tell you how many times I wrote chapters and started story files and then erased them cause I didn't like them and couldn't see myself finishing the project. So, I hope everyone likes this new Traylor story, and please drop a review and tell me if I should continue.
BabyS
Chapter One
"Alright gentlemen, show me that you guys can run these plays without me having to stop you," Jack Bolton shouted out as he walked away from the varsity basketball team. He headed towards the middle of the floor and turned around to look at them. "I wanna see if you guys can get this done, do it and we'll be heading home earlier for tonight." He stated as he lifted his whistle to his lips, Jack allowed his eyes to drift over everyone of his players before landing on his son Troy, who stood near the back of the large group. "The playoffs are right around the corner and I need you guys focused and prepared," he blew the whistled and tossed the ball out to Mark Hudson his starting shooting guard. "Let's go." he shouted as he crossed his arms over his chest. The team immediately began running the play, teams of five would come out onto the court and run through the play five teams before the next group stepped onto the court. Jack Bolton stood out at center court with his assistant coach, his eyes narrowed as he watched his players. Calming taking in minor mistakes that he would correct later and mentally checking things off that they did correctly.
Troy Bolton stood in the back of the group silently dreading the moment it was time for his group to take the floor. He had been in a love and hate relationship with basketball since the moment his father had written his name on the list. Most of the players at the beginning thought it was nothing more than a simple case of him getting privileges because he was his father's son. It had taken him a little over a month to prove himself to the upperclassmen on the time that, even though he was a lowly freshmen, he was still good enough to wear the Varsity wildcat jersey. However, the worst part about being on the team happened to be that he was the coach's son. It was hard, because his father's attitude towards him was slowly killing his love for the game. Mostly because when it came to his father everything he did had to be basketball related or his father would become upset with him. He wouldn't even attempt to count the times he had been forced to stay behind and shoot a few hundred free throws or lay-ups all because he had missed a few during practice. His mother had tried to tell his father that he was pushing him to hard but that just went over his father's head.
Closing his eyes and sending up a silent pray that this went okay, Troy anxiously stepped onto the court ready to run the play with his squadmates. Moving quickly to his spot underneath the basketball he waited for Jacob Rawlins to smack the ball, which signaled that the play was live. He watched as Jacob smacked the ball and then looked towards Joseph Sullivan who was moving towards him to set the screen. As soon as Joseph was set, he cut around him quickly and up towards the high wing area of the court with his hands out ready to receive the basketball, instead what he heard was his father's whistle. Stopping in his tracks he looked towards his father who was standing there just shaking his head in disgust. "What type of cut for the ball was that Troy?" he shouted his voice thundering through the gym, as he took his whistle from his mouth and stared down his son from his position across the court. "Are you serious?" he asked in disbelief. Troy only sighed and lowered his head as his father continued speaking. "Would you run the play like that in a game with the win on the line." Jack asked again, as he looked at his son who only lifted his head and stared back at him. "Well would you?"
"No sir." he mumbled with a shake of his head, hoping that his father would just let them run the play again. He didn't want this to escalate into another long night in the gym, something he knew his father wasn't against doing. Jack tilted his head at his son's answer and then raised his arms to his side as if he was mentally done.
"Then why," he paused for what Troy only believed was dramatic effect. "Then why are you running it like that in my practice, Troy." Jack asked his voice ending in complete bewilderment. "We practice like we what gentleman." Jack asked looking over Troy and towards his teammates who were all watching the incident silently.
"Play." the team chorus out.
"Like me play," Jack repeated as he looked back at Troy. "We practice like we play, on this team Troy. I don't need lackadaisical players, I need players that will and are going to give their all in practices and during the game. No, does it both ways on the Pro level and it won't be done on the wildcat court," he walked over towards his son and stared him down. Lifting a finger he pointed it towards Troy's chest. "If I can't trust you during practice how do you expect me to trust you during a close game with the season on the line." Lifting his head, Troy looked up at his father who simply stood before him, staring him down as if he had actually started this whole confrontation. Glancing around he could see the other players watching him and his father. Most of them holding nothing in their eyes but pity for him, and that was only because they knew that Jack did this all the time, that he got on Troy all the time for the tiniest infraction.
"I'm sorry Coach," Troy stated with a sigh. "It won't happen again." Jack raised an eyebrow at his son for a brief moment before nodding his head in agreement.
"You're right it won't-give me a mile." Troy's mouth dropped opened in utter shock as he looked at his father and then back towards the rest of the team.
"But-you can't be serious, all I did was just not cut hard enough towards the ball. That can be done again." Troy stated, disbelief coloring his tone fully as he looked towards his father who just stood them watching him.
"I know it can be done again, but not in a game. They would have just intercepted the ball. So maybe so laps will you remember that on my court we run fast for everything," he paused and looked down his nose at Troy. "Not just for water." Troy felt his cheeks burn bright with embarrassment as he looked at his father, who was now walking away from him. Jack paused for only a second before turning and looking towards Troy one last time. "Now go and get started. I want to see you run through this play again before practice ends." Jack stated dismissively as he turned his attention back to the rest of the team. "Someone get out here and take over Troy's position," Troy stood there for a few minutes watching his father to stunned even move. Unfortunately, for him his father saw that he hadn't and called him on it. "Is there a problem?" He all but snapped as he looked over at his son, who simply stared back at him.
"No sir there isn't." Troy mumbled as he looked at his father for a brief second before turning around and heading for the outer edges of the court. He gave his father one last look before he started to run his laps. As soon as he started running his father resumed practice, while Troy tried to bring down the rage he was currently feeling at that moment towards his father.
Later on after practice, Troy walked into the locker room and give his locker a hard punch, he watched as the locker bent inward hardly noticing the looks that several of his teammates sent his way. Taking several deep breaths, he clenched his fists and tried to think of anything other than his father and how angry the man made him. He was suddenly pulled from his thoughts, as someone placed a hand on his shoulder. "Man don't let him get you down, you know he just expects the most out of us out there." Troy released a humorless laugh as he looked up at Joseph Sullivan the only upperclassman he was really close too, the only one he would call a good friend on the team.
"Yeah sure, he just expects the most out of me out there. You guys don't have him coming down on your for every little thing." Troy muttered as he turned around to look the other boy in the face. Joseph just sighed and sat down on the bench behind him as Troy continued to look at her.
"You're good man, real good. This whole basketball thing is something you're real good at and maybe he's just trying to get you to be your best." Joseph tried to tell him with a sigh.
"Push me, no man he tries to humiliate me out there every afternoon, every freaking practice. I cough during a drill and I run laps. I jog to position during a play demonstration when though everyone else does it and I'm the one he yells out. No, he's not trying to get me to be the best I can be." Troy harshly whispered, not wanting everyone else to overhear their conversation. Joseph just nodded his head as he looked up at Troy before speaking up.
"Look, I've been on your father's team since day one. He must think you're good enough. He didn't put you on the JV team for a reason. You could have been with them playing meaningless games getting your skills up but instead your father chose to but you on this team because he knows you can handle it. He pulled you up here so you can compete against good competition each and every night. He doesn't let you ride the bench, he actually plays you more than Kyle and he's a senior." Joseph reasoned yet again as he looked at his friend. Troy sighed and shrugged his shoulders and shook his head as he thought over what Joseph had just told him.
"Man I don't know." he finally said. Joseph just sighed and pushed himself up from the sofa. He looked at Troy for a moment and spoke up.
"Well I hope you figure it out. Your dad cares about you. I think the only reason he really pushes you is because he sees you doing something that he doesn't see anyone else on the team achieving. Think about that, hell just ask him about it," he stated with a sigh. "Look man I just thought I'd come here and tell you what I thought. See you tomorrow night alright." Troy only nodded his head and returned his gaze towards his locker. Joseph gave him one last look before heading out for the night. Troy stood there for a few more minutes before heading into the shower intent on getting clean before riding home with his father which would probably only result in a fifteen minute screaming match in the car. As he turned on the shower head, Mark Hudson he was standing in the other stall washing up as well and spoke up.
"Man that was some harsh stuff out there tonight." Troy turned to give him a look, but Mark only raised his hand for a brief second and sighed. "I'm not trying to start anything with you Troy, just stating the obvious." Troy raised an eyebrow at that and looked at the other man for a second.
"Is there a reason for all of that, I mean you hardly talk to me." Troy stated with a sigh, Mark just sighed and nodded his head.
"I was going to invite you out to a party man. Me and a chuckle of other guys on the team or heading out for the night and after that awful display out there," he stated jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards the direction of the court. "I just thought maybe you'd like a night out as well." Troy turned away from him and thought things over for a minute. He certainly didn't feel like staying here for over an hour or fighting with his father tonight. Turning back around, he looked at Mark.
"Sure man that sounds good but you do know that I can't drive."
"Of course I know man," Mark stated with a grin. "Don't worry about all that. I'll drive you there and drive you back." Mark turned off the shower and grabbed his towel. "Just meet me outside I'll be waiting out there." Troy nodded his head and watched as Mark left the room. Once he was alone he finished washing up and decided that he was going to try and have fun at the party.
It was nearly twenty minutes later when Troy finally came out of the room fully dressed and ready to start his night of partying. The gym for the most part was deserted except for few players that were currently saying good-bye to his father who was sitting in the bleachers. Troy waited till they were gone before walking out of the locker room. He didn't spare his father a glance as he quickly made his way towards the exit, but he should have known that it wouldn't have been that easy.
"Where do you think you're going, Troy?" His father called out as he stepped down the bleachers and walked towards him. Turning around on his heel, Troy looked at his father while still moving towards the door. He just couldn't take it anymore, he couldn't take his father's voice, his attitude. He was just tired of it all and he just need space. He needed peace.
"Away." he called out simply. "Away from you." Jack was storming over towards him, but Troy for his part didn't stop heading towards the door. As he pulled opened the gym's doors, his father quickly called out to him from his position across the court.
"No, I don't think that's going to work. I-We need to go over some more things. The team has a game in less than four days and I don't think you'll be ready for-."
"I'm leaving, Dad." Troy stated firmly cutting his father off, as he hoped that Mark was still out there waiting for him so they could head out to the party. His father released a heavy sigh as he glared at his son with only the symbol of the wildcat separating them from one another at the moment. Troy studied his father for a moment before shaking his head. "Look, Dad. I'm tired alright," he paused and tossed his hands up above his head to prove the point. "I'm tired and I'm going out tonight for some type of relaxation. I have other things to do just like the rest of my teammates. A life to live, and I won't waste here with you in this damn gym running ghosts drills for you until you like it." he snapped out angrily as he looked at his father, whose eyes were now narrowed into slits. Jack shook his head and pointed towards his son.
"You aren't going to this party."
"I'm going to this party." Troy countered, just as quickly as he looked at his father. If his father wanted a fight, well he'd give him one with just a bit of truth on the side. He was sick and tired off all this shit. Sick and tired of his father pushing him forward when all he really wanted to do was stay in place for just a damn moment.
"No you aren't."
"Yes I am." Troy replied back sharply as he looked over at his father as if he had lost his damn mind. "I need to relax, you know unwind," he twirled his hand in the arm as he looked at his father, "from the hell that you put me through today." Jack clenched his jaw as he looked at his son for a moment before shaking his head.
"Look son is this about you having to run laps," Jack stated calmly as he looked at him. "I mean really, if this is all that this is-."
"It's about everything." Troy shouted out loudly as he looked at his father, his blue eyes flashing dangerously as he looked at his father. "It's about every damn thing. You've always been on my damn back, you're always knocking me down, killing my confidence and for what. . .not because I'm some crazy kid bent on during dangerous, stupid things. Not because I'm some drug user or something. No you do all because of basketball," Troy stated with a shake of his head as he looked at him. "You know what I'm just glad that I have Mom, I'm glad that you actually married a woman that isn't as basketball crazy as you, because Mom she understands me, understands that my life doesn't revolve around basketball. She cares about me a lot more than you ever did or will. . . or whatever," he shouted his chest rising and falling as he glared at the man before him. Lifting a hand, he ran it through his hard as he glared at the man. "All I can say is thank you God for her, cause I don't know what I'd do if-." Troy paused then and shook his head. He didn't feel like he needed to go further. He was pretty sure, his father got the point. Jack just stared after his son a little bit longer before shrugging his shoulders. The older man actually looked broken as he studied his son. Looking down at the wildcat symbol that separated him from his son, Jack studied it for a moment as Troy watched him silently. After a few minutes, Jack looked back up at his son and sighed.
"Fine son, you wanna go out. You wanna go out and party. Rebel over some bullshit ass reason because you think I treat you to rough out here on this court. Fine," Jack spat out angrily as he looked at him. "Fine go out and while you're at it get the hell out of my sight."
Troy looked up at the other students gathered around the small group therapy session, he didn't really want to continue with his story, he had been over it so much in the last few months that he was just sick of retelling it, remembering it and just thinking about it. He looked towards the man in charge and just looked away. "That was the last conversation that I had with my father." he muttered as he looked at his pants leg. "That's my last memory of him." The group was quiet as Troy finished his sentence, Troy continued to look at the floor, refusing to look up until he was sure his eyes were filled with tears. Finally he released a small sniff and looked back up his blue eyes meeting the therapist's eyes. "And that's why I'm here, because my mom thinks I need help getting over this, or getting past it or whatever." he finished softly with a shrug of his shoulders. The man only nodded his head as he looked at him before glancing around at the other students.
"Thank you for sharing that with us, Troy." Almost immediately as custom, the rest of the class thanked him for sharing as well. Troy just looked them all over and then looked back down tired of sharing and tired of being there. "I think that ends our session for this week, next week we'll pair off in groups with old members helping some of the new members with ways to cope. Our senior members in the group can really help some of you new guys get through the pain. That's what we do here for one another. We help each other as a team get through things." The rest of the class just nodded and then stood up. Troy quickly pushed himself out of his chair and grabbed his bag, he was pretty sure his mother was going to be outside waiting for him like she had done everyday so far since he had joined the group therapy sessions. "Troy." looking up he saw the doctor walking towards him. Reaching out he placed his hand on Troy's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Yes Dr. Patterson."
"I'm glad you shared with us today. I'm glad you took that step and joined out little group. I know things are hard but-."
"Can you please-just don't." Troy muttered as he held his hand up and looked at the man. Dr. Patterson only nodded his head for a moment and sent Troy a small smile as he studied the boy before him.
"Alright then," Dr. Patterson said with a sigh. "See you next week." Troy just nodded his head and picked up his book bag and headed towards the door. As he neared the door, someone called his name. Turning around expecting, yet another attempt by Dr. Patterson to be his 'friend,' he was surprised to see a short African American girl looking up at him. Her light brown eyes went over him, before she spoke up.
"I'm glad you joined the group, I thought you'd just sit over there in the corner forever." she stated bluntly as she looked at him, Troy's mouth dropped open at her words as he stared down at her. The girl gave him a soft smile as she stared up at him for a moment before pressing on. "I know that you don't want to hear this, but I'm truly sorry for what you're going through." Before Troy could say another word, the girl hightailed it out of the room. He stood there for a few moments, just looking towards the door she had left through before shaking his head.
"Whatever." he mumbled as he walked through the door, as he exited the small building, he saw the girl climbing into the back of a nice upscale car. He paused on the sidewalk and watched as the pulled out of the parking just as his mother pulled up. He quickly got into the car, and buckled up his seatbelt not wanting to upset his mother and settled back in the seat. Once his mother looked him over, she pulled off into the steady flow of traffic. The ride was silence for a little while before his mother began speaking her voice soft.
"So?" Lillian Bolton asked as she looked over at her son, he was busy staring out the window. "How was it?"
"I shared today," Troy mumbled around the hand he had over his mouth. "That's about it." he finished as he turned to look at his mother, whose eyes had watered a bit at his words. He looked towards his mother, he didn't want to be cold with her. She was all he had left, and he certainly didn't want to push her away. "How was your dad?"
"It was fine, I suppose." Lillian whispered, and by the look in her eyes. Troy could tell that she had spent some time today down at the gravesite, spending a little time with her late husband. Otherwise, she wouldn't have answered him.
"That's good mama." Troy whispered as he returned his gaze to the front of the car. Lillian just nodded and focusing her attention on driving.
"You know the school called me, they wanted to know if you would be attempting to finish this year up so you can be with your friends during your sophomore year." Troy just shook his head as he looked at his mother.
"I don't think that's going to happen."
"They have a plan that will help you. I believe they said something about a tutor. I think you should do it, Troy. Try to keep up with school, . . .that's what he would have-." she paused her lips trembled as she tried to finish her sentence. Troy reached out and laid a hand on his mother as they pulled up to a red light.
"I understand and I'll do it." he whispered softly as he looked at her. "Don't worry I won't let you down." he stated with a determine glint in his eye that hadn't been there since before his father had passed. In fact the last time he had, had that look in his eye. He had told his father exactly what he thought of him. Troy immediately pushed back the thought and returned his attention back to his mother.
"I'll finish this year on top mama. I think we're due something good." he murmured softly as he looked at her. Lillian looked over at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"Don't you want to see your friends?" she asked softly as she glanced at her son, who only shook his head.
"I really don't feel like seeing anybody. I'd rather start next year if I feel like it." he murmured with a shrug of his shoulders. Lillian just nodded her head, she certainly didn't want to push her son into anything he wasn't ready for. They were both healing, and she didn't want to make what little progress he had made over the last few months disappear because he had a relapse when she forced him to go back to school before he was really ready.
"Alright then, I'll just call the school and see if the tutor will come out here instead." Troy just released a soft sigh as he looked at his mother hoping that she could in fact get that done, because he knew deep down that he couldn't face anyone, and he just didn't want to deal with anything extra right now.
When they finally made it home, Troy helped his mother out of the car and headed towards the house. He opened the front door for her, and waited till she was inside before closing the door. Stepping into the house, he looked up and glanced around the now empty house. So many rooms in the house no longer had any use because his father was no longer there. The study was completely off limits, to anyone except his mother, who went in there most nights and slept on the sofa. One day he had asked her about it, and she told him that in there she felt closer to his father, so promptly left it alone and allowed her to do with the room what she wanted. Besides it's not like he had any right to go in there. Especially since his father died probably thinking that his only child hated him. Lifting a hand to his chest, Troy massaged the area over his heart and quickly bounded up the stairs in search of his room. He didn't know what he'd do tonight to keep his mind off how he and father had ended their relationship, all he knew was that he didn't want to dwell on it tonight. Entering his room, he quickly made his way over to his bed and laid down on it. Staring up at the ceiling, he slowly counted back from hundred. Hoping that once he reached one, that the tears in his eyes would disappear because he didn't deserve to cry, besides would his father even want his tears.
Troy found himself downstairs the next day in front of the television, flipping through various channels and almost looking for something-anything to keep his mind off the visitor that they were going to have later on that day. His mother had told him that his tutor, a student from his class would be there right after school and that the tutor would work with him until eight o'clock that night for about four days a week. Monday thru Thursday. Troy just figure the reason for the schedule was because of his friday meetings with that therapy group, and he was hoping that with the tutor coming and all that he wouldn't have to go back. He didn't like sharing, and he certainly didn't like talking about his father and their rocky relationship to a bunch of strangers every damn week either. They didn't know him, and he certainly didn't want them judging him. Which he knew they were doing after what he told them during the last session. He really didn't know what came over him last time, like that girl said. He had done nothing up till then, except for sitting in the corner listening and watching them. However, that day something was different. He wanted to share, he wanted to get that last night off his chest. He was just tired of holding it all in. The sound of knocking at the front door pulled him from his bitter thoughts. "I got it mom." he shouted out as he heard her moving upstairs as if startled and it didn't take a genius to figure out exactly where she had been at that moment. He heard a soft ok, as he stood up and walked over to his front door. Yanking it open, he looked down in surprise as he saw the same black girl from his therapy group standing in the doorway looking up at him with a nervous experience on her face. Narrowing his eyes at her, he looked down at her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, wondering why she thought just because she had told him that she felt sorry for him didn't mean that she now had an open invitation to his home, he also wondered if Dr. Patterson had told her where he lived. That man was always in his business trying to get him to become closer to everyone in the group. Well, if this was his idea he certainly had another thing coming because-.
"I'm here to tutor you." she squeaked out as she looked up at him, it was then that he noticed the rolling book bag by her side or was it a lap top bag. Troy raised an eyebrow then and just shook his head.
"My mom told me that my tutor would be from the school and-."
"I'm from East High," she quickly stated with a small shrug of her petite shoulders, as she continued to look up at him. "You just never noticed me before." she finished with a sigh. Troy continued to stand there with a look of utter disbelief on his face. "We've been in the same class since middle school," she quickly added as she looked up at him. "My name is Taylor McKessie." Troy quickly turned the name over his mind, trying to figure out if he actually knew a Taylor McKessie while trying to figure out why she acted as if she didn't know him back during the therapy session.
"Troy Bolton, but I see you already knew that."
"Who wouldn't know Mr. Popular." she said bluntly, as she looked up at him. Troy raised an eyebrow at that and realized that he probably didn't have the slightest idea of who she was, mainly because she wasn't one of the popular kids back at school. Nodding his head, in understanding he stepped back and allowed her entry.
"Sorry about the mess." he mumbled indicting the way the house looked at the moment. Taylor merely looked up at him and shrugged her shoulders while pulling that rolling luggage behind her. Crossing his arms over his chest he stepped off the landing while she turned to look at him.
"So where do you want to get started?" Troy paused for a moment, not really sure if he should take Taylor upstairs to his room, since his mother was currently up there or just remain down here. Turning to look at her, he uncrossed his arms and cleared his throat.
"I think maybe we should go and work in the dining room." he said, thinking that that was probably the only clean area in the house. "Um follow me." he mumbled as he took off in that direction, but stopped abruptly and turned around towards Taylor. "Here let me carry that-I mean the inside of a house isn't the ideal place to have rolling luggage."
"It's a laptop bag." Taylor replied back quickly as she looked at him. Troy smirked and looked over at her and shook his head.
"Thank God, for a second there I thought you had a rolling book bag."
"Nope, had that last year but my-I got this once I started high school. I guess it's suppose to help me fit in more you know. . .helps me not look so much like a geek." Troy didn't really reply to that statement, instead he led them into the dining and sat her laptop bag down. She quickly walked over to it and started pulling out various books and papers while Troy just stood there watching.
"What's all this?" he asked as he looked over at her.
"Your work." she stated as she looked up at him from her position. Troy walked over to the table and fingered the work that she had set out on the table utter disbelief. Stepping back, he muttered a quick damn and sighed. "Oh it won't be that bad, you can do this and besides that's why I'm here. I'm here to help."
"Well since you're here, I guess I can do this huh." he muttered softly as he looked at her for a brief moment before sighing. "So how are we going to get this all done then."
"By tackling one subject for about two days at a time and getting as much done as possible so the work load from school won't continually build on you. If we do this right I think you'll have this all done by the summer or at the very least the just before the new school year begins." Troy studied her for a moment before nodding his head. He needed to do something like this, he needed to get ready to go back to school, make something about his life normal and simple again. If she was here to help him achieve that then he would take her up on the offer no questions asked. Setting his hands on the table top, he looked over at her and then allowed his gaze to stray to the pile of work she was putting onto the table.
"Alright let's get started then."