It was his fault. It was his fault, and no one was going to tell him it wasn't. Everyone he knew now looked at him like he was a stranger. He used to be the hotshot of East High, Captain of the basketball team with a girlfriend and his best friends around him... Now he didn't have any of that, not even his parents could look at him. He had enough of the glares and scurried to his bedroom, locking his door and laying on his bed, grabbing his comforter and allowing the tears to be absorbed by the quilt.
Three days ago
Troy skidded into his girlfriend driveway and jumped from the car, making sure it locked and secured, before bolting for the front door of his girlfriends house, where she home alone. Gabriella just had time to register it was her boyfriend of six years, before his lips landed on hers, releasing three weeks worth of kisses and make out the couple had missed, due to Gabriella's grandmother falling seriously ill and requesting her daughter and her granddaughter at her side in case the worse case scenario happened, luckily it didn't.
'God, I missed you!' He hissed as his hands clutched her waist tightly as she wrapped her legs round his waist and allowed him to carry her upstairs, before she unwrapped her legs and landed on her feet, unzipping his jacket and slipping it from his muscular arms and throwing it behind her. She sighed in happiness as his lips travelled to her neck and began to suck lightly. She stumbled as she turned and her back hit her bedroom door, reaching behind her and swinging her door open. Troy caught her as she fell backwards slightly with the door, their lips never parting, as he slammed the door behind him. With tongues duelling they finally hit the bed, Gabriella's beige woollen cardigan and Troy's shirt scattered on the floor.
'So, I take it you missed me?' He whispered, as they came up for air.
'My mom comes back in an hour, you can talk then!' Gabriella whispered, tugging Troy's head down and connected their lips again. Troy groaned into her mouth and pulled her closer, their passion starting to take over as hands began to travel.
'Baby...'
'Mhm?' Gabriella murmured, her head in the clouds, as Troy's lips attached themselves to her neck again and he kissed his way down the cleavage that his girlfriends black deep V necked, throw over top offered to him, Gabriella's dark purple coloured acrylic nails raking through his hair, as she threw her head back.
Neither of them heard the footsteps heading up the stairs.
'YOU'RE BACK!' Sharpay screamed, as she slammed the bedroom door open, causing it to bang against the wall loudly, causing the two teens to spring apart.
'Shit!' Troy shouted, in fright as he leapt off Gabriella in shock, his heart racing. Sharpay ignored him and pounced on her best friend.
'You can never do that again! These three weeks have been shit without you! You said you were going to be back at seven!'
'I lied! Get off me!' Gabriella laughed.
'Alright Sharpay?' Troy said glumly, reaching for his shirt and throwing it back on. It was then that Sharpay looked at him.
'Hi!' She said, waving him off, as he threw his t-shirt back on and handing Gabriella her cardigan back...
'C'mon Sharpay, I've literally been home an hour!' Gabriella said as she headed downstairs, un-tucking her hair from inside her beige coloured cardigan and allowing her long black locks to fall down her back. She headed into the living room and sat down, Troy pulling her to his chest and wrapping his arms round her tightly.
'Oh come on! We all need a night out! And it's gonna be even better now you're back!'
'Oh for god sake... Fine! I'll come out. I can see I'm not gonna win this so I'll just cut the arguments out while I still can' Gabriella relented.
'Good, because Troy told everyone your coming already!' Sharpay revealed, causing Gabriella to whip her head round to face Troy.
'Troy!' She exclaimed, as he glared at Sharpay
'I'm surprised he didn't tell you, considering how whipped his is around you! Whipped!' Sharpay exclaimed, as she picked up a pillow and hit Troy with it.
'Shar!' Gabriella shouted, pretending to be annoyed with her best friend of fourteen years. She remembered the first day she met the pink loving, drama loving girl in pre school. Gabriella was new to the neighbourhood and Sharpay was her first ever friend she made. She soon became close to her twin, Ryan Evans and up until the end of 3rd grade, it was just them. Then Troy, Taylor and Chad join the school and their little group expanded into the Wildcats gang, as they called themselves.
'Right so what we doing tonight then?' Gabriella asked
'We could go to the Rose and Crown?' Troy suggested. Before Gabriella could answer, Sharpay answered for her.
'Perfect! We'll go there!' she shrieked happily, clapping her hands before looking as Gabriella's clothes. 'Should I come back later and let you get ready?' she asked. Gabriella looked at her clothes, a shocked look on her face. Her black heeled boots, dark washed destroyed skinny jeans, her black bralet and her flimsy black throw over top, complete with her long beige cardigan adorned her body.
'Shar! I am ready!' she exclaimed, looking for Troy for approval. He nodded and connected their lips in a sweet kiss. She broke away and looked back at Sharpay, her smile slipping from her face as her best friend didn't look impressed. 'What? Have the Rose and Crown introduced a dress code since we were last there?' Gabriella remarked, making Troy and Sharpay laugh.
'No, It's just different that's all, I was just thinking about going out afterwards!' Sharpay remarked back, causing Gabriella to smirk. Suddenly, a loud squeal erupted in the room and Gabriella looked up in time to see Taylor fling her arms round her.
'Tay! Jesus, haven't any of you heard of knocking?' Gabriella retorted.
'Look at you! All tanned and glowing!' Taylor complimented, as she moved to sit next to Gabriella, making Gabriella giggle.
'You should see me after a month in Italy... I'm even more tanned!' Gabriella laughed. She saw Taylor admiring her clothes.
'That looks cute on you!' she complimented
'Aww! Thanks mate... You see Shar thought it was too different!' Gabriella told Taylor, who looked at Sharpay.
'For the Rose and Crown?' Taylor questioned Sharpay.
'Exactly what I said!' Gabriella told Taylor, before she snuggled into Troy's embrace and tucked her head into his neck, sighing happily when he placed a kiss in her curls.
SNAP!
Troy and Gabriella blinked as Sharpay smiled at the photo she had just snapped.
'Too cute!' she cooed, as she posted it to her Instagram, causing the three teens to roll their eyes. Just then, a car honk sounded outside and Sharpay leapt to her feet, smiling brightly.
'That's Zekey, everybody! C'mon!' Sharpay squealed, trying to usher everyone out of the room. Just then, the front door opened again and Inez's boyfriend poked his room the doorway.
'Oi, oi! What's occurring?' he greeted, making Gabriella laugh, as she got to her feet.
'Very current, Ricky! How are you?' she greeted politely, as Troy wrapped his arms round her lovingly and kissing her shoulder.
'I'm very well, thank you' he replied, before checking her clothing and shouting for Inez, who appeared at his side, watching as he pointed to Gabriella. 'Best shoes on, her hair done, make up... Think she's trying to tell us something, Inez?' he questioned her, watching as Inez looked disappointed.
'You're going out? But we only just got back. I thought we could go for a meal and then a movies, have a catch up with Ricky...'
'Mum...' Gabriella quietly whined, guilt flooding her body. It must've shown on her face, because Inez and Ricky both cracked up laughing, causing the younger Montez to frown.
'I'm joking! He told us last night!' Inez said, pointing to Troy. Gabriella turned to tell her boyfriend off, however his lips caught her in searing, quick kiss, making her blush and forget.
'See? Whipped!' Sharpay commented, from the doorway, a smirk on her face...
'Why are we stopping here?' Troy asked Gabriella, as they pulled up outside the park, watching as Sharpay climbed from Zeke's car. Gabriella shrugged and continued to look, until she saw the blonde hair of her other best male friend.
'They're picking up Ryan! I thought he was in New York? Looking at Colleges?' Gabriella asked Troy, who shook his head.
'No. He rearranged it until after Christmas. Didn't explain why though' Troy answered, stroking the back of Gabriella's head with his hand. She leaned back and sighed happily as she watched the two twins argue, as they headed back to Zeke's car.
'Can we just leave them? I want to spend some alone time since Shar so rudely interrupted us!' Troy asked, making Gabriella giggle. Troy smiled and couldn't resist reaching over kissing her. The kiss grew and it was only when Zeke blew his car horn that they reluctantly pulled apart.
'Let's go before Zeke sends Sharpay to our car!' Gabriella said, refastening her seatbelt and waving at Sharpay, who was wedged between Taylor and Ryan in the back seat...
Later, after stopping for a meal, the car arrangements changed. Chad, who had been sat in the passenger seat of Zeke's car, was now with Troy and Gabriella, while Taylor rode with Sharpay, Zeke and Ryan.
'Remind me again why you and Taylor aren't speaking?' Gabriella asked Chad, as she searched for a CD in Troy's car to play.
'We had an argument over Colleges. I said I wanted to go wherever she was going and she rejected the idea because I need to expand on my options and not always expect her to catch me if I fall' Chad replied.
'Catch you if you fall?' Troy asked confused
'Yeah, like I always ask her for help on my homework and class work because I simply can't get it right, so she always helps me. I swear, if we hadn't all met, god knows where I'd be!'
'Yeah, but what does that have to do with college?' Troy asked
'She means that Chad should open his own path and follow his dreams. Surely Chad has some colleges he wants to go to? She's telling him to create his own path into his dreams rather expecting Taylor to have all the answers all the time. He needs to sit himself down and write down what he wants to do in life, what colleges he wants to go and how he plans to achieve them goals, without the help of his girlfriend' Gabriella answered for both boys, as she slid the CD into the CD Player.
'Anyway, I'm sorry about before...' Gabriella said to Troy, who glanced at her for second and shrugged.
'It doesn't matter' he replied honestly, smiling slightly.
'It matters to me. Tell you what... We'll spend New Years Eve together. Alone. Bring in together, mark our anniversary in a special way' Gabriella said, pure love radiating from her voice.
'Y-Yeah! That would be good' Troy stuttered, as images flashed in his brain and made him smirk. Just then, bright lights flashed from behind him, before the car overtook them and slotted into place in front of them, causing Troy to brake and slow down.
'Dickhead!' Chad said, making Gabriella chuckle. Troy took Gabriella's hand in his, bringing it to his lips.
'I love you' he said, affectionately, making Gabriella smile.
'I love you too' she replied, in the same tone. She gazed at her boyfriend before Chad ruined the moment by making sick motions and sounds. Troy laughed quietly and indicated to overtake...
'So what are you guys doing for Christmas?' Taylor asked Sharpay, who was texting her mom.
'We're spending it in New York with our Uncle and Cousin. Should be fun' Sharpay said, smiling. 'What about you?' she asked, looking up from her phone.
'Spending it with my family. The whole lot of them are coming. Fourteen people in the house, on Christmas Day! I'm going be wishing I was with you guys I can see it!' Taylor grumbled.
'Oh it can't be that bad!' Ryan asked from the front seat, as he turned and faced Taylor.
'Nah, it is! Five little cousins who have to be entertained of every hour of every day, plus hyper from all the chocolate and sweets they'll sneak, it's a nightmare!' Taylor ranted
'Ouch! Sounds bad! Wait till we all have kids, it'll be even worse then!' Zeke said, making everyone chuckle. They fell into comfortable silence, before Ryan broke it.
'Here, do you reckon will get married and have kids first?'
'Isn't it obvious? Ella and Troy!' Sharpay answered, raising an eyebrow at her twin. Ryan thought for a moment.
'You've got a point. What about second?' he asked, making Sharpay and Taylor laugh. Just then, full beam highlights illuminated the entire car as it drove up behind them.
'Oi twat! Turn your lights down!' Zeke yelled, as the car over took them, and swerved the slot into place in front of them.
'Whoa, what he doing?' Sharpay questioned, although no one answered her. They watched as the car moved again, this time in front of Troy's. They waited a minute before Troy's indicator started flashing...
'You guys make me want to throw up from all the lovey dovey stuff!' Chad commented, dodging Gabriella's fist as she reached behind her seat and tried to hit him.
'Shut up, Chad!' Troy commented, a smile on his face meant he was enjoying the banter though. Troy checked to see if the coast was clear and stepped on the gas as he overtook the red car. It was Chad who saw it before he did.
Bright car headlights headed round the bend, towards them.
'Troy! Man, pull in!'
'TROY!'
SMASH!
Car horns blaring and his girlfriends screams were the last thing he heard before everything turned black...
It was Ryan who regained consciousness first. He let out a shout of pain and undid his seatbelt. He tried to look round, but everything seemed upside down, before he realised that the car was actually on it's roof. He reached out and felt the grassy earth under his fingertips. He slowly and carefully pulled himself out of the wreckage and up to his feet. He was breathing heavily as he gazed round the wreckage site. He saw Troy's car upright, but the windscreen was smashed to pieces and the passenger side window had disappeared. He staggered backwards and clutched his head.
'Help! Someone help me!' he heard his sister shout. He rushed as quickly as he could round to her side.
'Shar! It's me! You're okay. I'll get you out, but you've got to help me!' Ryan told her. Sharpay nodded and Ryan noticed the relief sweeping across her face. Gently as he could, he help Sharpay remove herself from the wreckage.
'Help. We need help' Sharpay said, looking around at the wreckage. Just then, someone rushed towards them both.
'Sir? Miss, are you both okay? I've called for help... Don't worry! What are your names?'
'Ryan and Sharpay' Ryan said, his head spinning as he motioned to himself and his sister.
'Right Ryan, I'm Matt. I'm part of the fire department, I've called in help but I need you to keep your friends conscious or try and rouse them, can you do that?' Matt asked. Ryan nodded, before a scream rang out around them.
'CHAD!' Sharpay screamed. While Ryan and the fireman were talking, she needed to see Gabriella, so she started to head in the direction of Troy's car, trying not to build images in her head of what she could find, when she tripped and landed on the ground. She scrambled to her knees and realised she had tripped over Chad, who had been thrown from the car through the windshield.
'Shar, is he okay?' Ryan shouted as rushed to her side.
'Chad?' Sharpay asked, tearfully. Chad spluttered blood from him mouth as he tried to clear his airways.
'Shar, darling... Go to Gabriella' Ryan said, not wanting Sharpay to witness what was going to happen. Sharpay shakily got to her feet and rushed to Troy's car. Gabriella was drifting, her eyes flickering.
'Gabi, honey, It's Shar! It's me! Listen you have to wake up!' Sharpay sobbed, as she grabbed her best friend's hand, which was cold. 'You have to wake up, Troy needs you, what would he do without you, eh?' she broke off as she choked on a sob, before she collected herself. 'Remember at Prom? How good we all looked together? You and your prince?' Sharpay spared a glance at Troy who was out cold, blood trickling down the side of his head. 'Wake up, Gabi! Wake up, Gabi! Wake up!' Sharpay cried, as she gripped Gabriella's hands more tightly, listening to the occasional whimpers and moans from Gabriella as she fought to stay awake...
Lucille and Jack were sat on the couch, Lucille's legs swung over her husbands while they watched the night time TV.
'Hope you've left some hot water for me' Lucille commented, her eyes not moving from the TV. She heard Jack scoff.
'It's more than you leave for me!' Jack responded. Just then, Lucille's cell phone started ringing, causing Jack to groan.
'Tell me that's not your work!' Jack commented, referring to Lucille's job as a nurse. Lucille swatted his arm, as she reached for the cell phone.
'Hello?' she greeted, as she placed the phone to her ear. She was silent for a few minutes, before her expression began to change, causing Jack to frown.
'What's wrong?' he asked, worriedly...
'You sure your Mom will be alright? I mean, you can always fly her out. I wouldn't mind' Ricky told Inez as they got ready for bed, that evening.
'She'll be fine. I made sure her carer would be able to check on her three times a day. Besides you know what my mother is like' Inez pointed out.
'True, but I'm just saying, if you change your mind, I won't oppose' Ricky told his girlfriend, who smiled brightly.
'Thank you' she said, smiling as she reached over and kissed him. He wrapped his arms round her and smiled, until frantic banging at the front door caught their attention.
'Who could that be at this time?' Ricky questioned, as Inez climbed off the bed and headed down the steps, the banging never stopping.
'Lucille! What's-'
'There's been an accident! I don't know how bad it was, but Troy's not answering his phone! Gabriella was in it too!' Lucille cried, before she turned and headed back for the car, where Jack was waiting.
'Wait! Where abouts?' Ricky shouted out, as Inez started to go into shock.
'Somewhere over the fields, on Blacks Road!' she shouted, as she climbed into the car and speeding off into the night...
Back at the field, ambulances and police cars were surrounding the area. Sharpay and Ryan were sat in the ambulance doorways, their feet on the grass, both of them staring at Chad, who had been covered with a white sheet.
'Taylor's going to be destroyed' Sharpay whispered. Ryan had gone into shock, blocking everything out. What turned into a lovely day, full of laughter and love had ended in blood and tears. He turned his head and watched as the paramedics worked on cutting Troy and Gabriella out of the car. Both of them having neck braces round their necks with someone supporting them.
'Has Troy woken up?' he murmured. Sharpay looked over and relief washed over her.
'Thank you, lord!' she said, while looking up at the sky, her eyes sparkling.
'Here, get these round you both. You must be freezing' said Matt, handing them both large amounts of what looked like tin foil to them and wrapping it round their shoulders.
'Thank Matt. Not just for this, but for looking after us! I don't know how I can ever repay you!' Ryan told him, on behalf of himself and Sharpay. Matt smiled.
'You don't need to repay me. Just you guys being alive is good enough for me' he answered, before walked away to deal with a call.
'RYAN! SHARPAY!' Ryan looked over at where the police tape was sealing off the field and saw Inez trying to get through, wanting to get to them.
'Inez!' Ryan called. He stood up, taking Sharpay with him, his arms clamped round her shoulder keeping her close to him.
'Oh darlings! Are you okay?' Inez asked. Ryan nodded.
'We're fine-'
'Gabriella was talking if that's what you want to know' Sharpay told Inez gently. Inez smiled, that piece of information making her calm for the moment.
'Come on. We'll ask if we can go to the hospital and meet our parents there' Ryan said to Sharpay, who nodded and together headed to the ambulance where they had come from...
'Couple of bruises and a fractured nose? You're lucky kid' said one of the paramedic to Zeke, who was groaning in pain. They lifted the stretcher what he was on and carried him to the ambulance, passing Troy who was trying to find out information on Gabriella.
'Where's my girlfriend?' Troy asked, although it came out muffled because of the oxygen mask over his mouth.
'We need to get you to the hospital' said the paramedic, who was tending to Troy. Fear jolted through her.
'Where's my girlfriend!' he shouted, fear jolting through him as scenarios starting racing through his mind. The paramedic sighed and looked over her shoulder, seeing Gabriella getting loaded into a ambulance.
'She's being taken to hospital' she answered, making Troy sigh with relief.
'Thank you!' he said, his brain ordering him to calm down now he knew Gabriella was okay...
Ryan and Sharpay were sat back at the ambulance, both looking out of the night landscape in front of them.
'Beautiful, isn't it?' Sharpay asked, as she leaned against her brother. Ryan nodded in agreement. He rested his head on top of hers before he put a hand over his mouth and coughed, been polite. His eyes widened in horror as his hand brought back blood.
'I don't feel well' he groaned, leaning forward. Sharpay looked at him worriedly and rubbed his back.
'Ry?' she questioned. He coughed again and couldn't stop the spray of blood from his mouth, horrifying his twin.
'RYAN! NO! NO! PLEASE GOD NO!' Sharpay screamed, as Ryan fell to knees. Sharpay crashed to the ground and rested Ryan head in her lap. Matt rushed forward.
'What happened?' he questioned as he gently laid Ryan on the ground.
'I don't know... He coughed and then collapsed... Ryan, you can't leave me! Please! I need you, I need you! I NEED YOU!' she screamed hysterically, as paramedics rushed over and dragged her backwards so they could have room to work...
'Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez?' a paramedic called. Inez, Ricky, Lucille and Jack shot forward.
'Yes, we're their parents!' Jack answered on behalf of all of them... well most of them.
'Mr Bolton has been taken to Albuquerque City General, so has Ms Montez' the paramedic informed them. Inez let out a breath of relief and rushed to her car, Ricky following.
'Thank you!' Jack said, before rushing with Lucille to their car and driving off, following Inez and Ricky, their need to be with children overwhelming them...
R&R x