As young as Troy Bolton was, he had limits just like everyone else. His father unfortunately seemed to forget it. When had success overshadowed Troy's well being? The truth was Troy was exhausted. His days had grown increasingly full of practice, homework and just being Troy - the seemingly perfect guy. Ha! Troy could have laughed at that. He wasn't perfect and he hated the way people saw him. He hated the way his dad needed him to be perfect.
Today wasn't much different from most days. School had been clambered with work and basketball, as usual. He really missed Gaby and just hanging out with her. As he reached his home, his thoughts were interrupted by his dad.
"Troy we have to practice your aim, it' getting sloppy!" No doubt about who that was. His dad, as usual. He was just so tired, that for once he ignored his dad and fell into a peaceful sleep.
He was grabbed roughly and in panic jumped away. He fell to the floor with a loud thump.
Troy yelped. It was his dad. He clutched his arm where his dad had grabbed him. It was starting to get purple.
"I told you to go downstairs, Troy!" his father yelled angrily. He moved closer to Troy. He had never seen his dad like this.
Immediately Troy closed his eyes remembering what had happened to him 4 years ago. Up until now he had managed to lock it away. But now it came back. Troy Bolton seemed to have the worst luck.
Troy cuddled himself and cried out in a frightened voice, whimpering," Dad, please don't! Please don't hit me not like him! Don't." Seeing his dad towering over him so menacingly, terrified Troy.
His dad stopped paralyzed. His own son feared him, feared that he would hit him. Why would Troy think that? I would never hit him, no matter what.
Troy scrambled away from his dad, running out of his room and out the house. He didn't stop running until he reached Gabriela's house. He knocked and Mrs. Montez answered.
"Hello Troy, Gabriela is upstairs. Go ahead her room is the first room to the right," Mrs. Montez welcomed him warmly.
Troy nodded. "Thank you."
He knocked at Gaby's door. "Come in," she said.
Troy walked in slowly. He could feel himself trembling. He wished it would all just stop.
"Troy?" she asked surprised to see him today, then she noticed he looked really deathly pale. Worst yet he was trembling and he looked so frightened. "Troy, are you ok? What's wrong?" she asked moving closer to Troy.
In agony Troy shook his head. His mind replayed all the times his Uncle had hit him.
Five years ago when Troy was 11, his Uncle Frederic had come to stay with Troy's family for a year. Back then both his parents worked. They let his Uncle stay because he took care of Troy or so they thought. But the truth was that his uncle hit Troy. He hit him but always in places nobody would notice. Then when He was done hitting Troy he would….
It hurt too much to remember. His uncle had left after a year. At 12, Troy had withdrawn from everybody trying to heal himself. At 13 he managed to lock away his memories.
Troy let out a sob. Reality hit him hard and he remembered he was at Gaby's. Oh how he needed her right now.
Gabriela didn't know what to do so she hugged Troy. Troy was overcome by pain, sadness, grief….He cried trembling into Gaby's shoulder. His cries were sharp and raps. He clutched onto her, needing something to hold onto. An anchor back to reality, something to escape his nightmares.
Finally his sobs subsided. Had hours passed?
"Troy tell me what's wrong? What happened?" she asked scared. She had never seen Troy like this. He was always so confident, so strong.
Troy wanted to tell her but he didn't know what her reaction would be. He wanted to let it out. He breathed in heavily, ordering himself not to go haywire again.
"Today brought back…memories, things that I had locked away. I was hurt, Gaby. Really hurt," he whispered, his lower lip trembling. "Five years ago when I was 11, my dad's brother Frederic came to stay with us. Back then both my parents worked and he was the one who take care of me. Everyday he…beat….me," Troy paused to hold back a sob. "He beat me in places nobody would notice, and then when he was done he would……" Troy couldn't continue. Gaby held him again as sobs escaped him. His face was contorted into anguish.
"it's ok, Troy, it's ok…" Gaby whispered trying to soothe and calm him down. Troy felt weak for crying but he couldn't stop.
Oh god, it hurts so much, thought Troy.
"Gaby I'm so scared, I'm so scared," he murmured," he would touch me. He said so many things. Oh Gaby it hurts so much to remember, Gaby help me! Make it stop, make the pain go away…" he whispered broken. He clutched his head almost painfully.
Gaby could feel the tears rolling down her eyes. Oh Troy, I'm so sorry.
They remained locked in their comforting position ; Gaby holding Troy, for what seemed as hours.
"Don't tell anyone, please, don't tell anyone!" he pleaded desperate. He realized just what he had done. He had told Gaby but no one was supposed to know!
Gabriela nodded. "It's ok Troy I'm here. I'm here." She repeated it, for emphasize.
"Troy did you tell your parents?"
He shook his head. "He said if I told them, he would come again. That he would…" Troy whispered. He wanted her to understand, he didn't want Gaby to see him as a coward.
"Did he just…touch or did he…?"
Troy shook his head. "He didn't do that. Please Gaby I don't want to talk about it anymore." he whispered, his voice constrained.
She nodded. "Ok Troy. I'm going to get some food for us. I'll be right back, ok?" It was with incredibly difficulty that Gaby left, but she needed to think. Everything was happening so fast.
He nodded. Troy laid his head back and tried to stay awake but he soon fell fast asleep.
When Gabriela came back up. Troy was sound asleep. He looked so peaceful, his beautiful face soft and free of nightmares.
She decided to call Mrs. Bolton. It was now or never. "Hi, Mrs. Bolton this is Gabriela. I wanted to know what happened today with Troy and Mr. Bolton. Troy's here. He was really upset, right now he's asleep."
Mrs. Bolton hesitated. "Troy and his father got into an argument. Troy was really tired but Jack wanted him to practice more. He went up to his room angry and Troy was frightened. i heard his pleas, he asked his father not to hit him like him. Gaby do you know what's happening with Troy?" Her voice grew with anxiety and worried.
Gaby hesitated. No I promised Troy I would keep his secret. "I don't know Mrs. Bolton. I think Troy must be tired, stressed, you know..." She felt incredibly guitly for lying, but she needed to give Troy space right now.