Title: Classified
I don't own High School musical or any songs or plots related to it. I do not own Taylor Swift or her songs. I don't own Miley Cyrus, Dakota Fanning, or Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. However, I own Lena, literally.
Summary: Troy's having a hard summer, and is convinced by his cousin that what his family needs is a puppy. Buying a puppy from the classifieds is harder than it looks, especially when a beautiful girl shows up at your doorstep instead. From there only drama can occur. When distance, sickness, and people get in the way, can two people and a family survive? A story of the love that brings us together, and the acts that drive us apart.
The screen door to the back porch slammed shut with a loud bang. Troy whipped his head around in the direction of the doorway. The blond strolled into his kitchen, and over to his fridge, swinging the white door open. A Siberian husky followed loyally after her.
Cara was a bit shorter than most 16 year olds, with long blonde hair that reached her bellybutton and cerulean blue eyes. She had clear pale skin, with a slight blush in her cheeks that had been there as long as Troy had known her, which was all of his life. She wore a miniskirt, red shirt, and flip-flops, with her hair in a high ponytail.
"You know, in some cultures, there's this new thing, they call it knocking, you should try it sometime." He said sarcastically.
Troy Bolton was a little on the tall side, but not too much. He was muscular and tanned, especially from the summer sun. He had light brown hair and the same cerulean blue eyes as his cousin. He generally wore jeans, T-shirts, wife beaters, hoodies, and wildcat spirit wear.
The blond rolled her cerulean blue eyes and scrunched up her red baseball sleeve shirt, continuing to dig through the fridge, "Why would I knock if the door isn't locked anyways?" she questioned playfully, while pulling out some sandwich ingredients.
"The door isn't locked because the last time it was you dislocated your shoulder trying to break in using one of the windows." He responded, grabbing the coca cola she tossed to him.
"I vaguely remember that, whatever, I know I'm your favorite cousin." She responded cheekily with a smile, shutting the fridge and beginning to assemble the sandwich.
"You're my only cousin, making you my favorite and least favorite." He told her, bidding the dog over to him.
A comfortable silence engulfed them for a while before she asked, "Where's uncle and Auntie?" while glancing around.
"Work. Travel." Troy responded dully, watching the sandwich she was eating with interest.
"Ever since Uncle quit as gym coach he's been traveling a lot." She commented lightly. "You're home alone a lot these days." She said. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, something he did when he was thinking, embarrassed, or stressed.
"Yeah well, business is booming." He sighed sadly. "I'm not home alone all the time, I've got Miley, Dakota, and Shiloh." He told her.
"You're so lucky to have sister's." she said with a sigh, she hated being an only child.
"You can keep them." Troy said quickly, sending a smile her way. He didn't like to talk about his parents or the fact that he hadn't seen them since the middle of May and it was now June.
"Where are they anyways?" she asked, chomping down on her sandwich as she glanced around the still house.
"Miley's at the audition for the school's summer musical, Dakota has a violin lesson, Shiloh is at her friend Matilda's." he rattled off, counting off his siblings on his fingers.
"Wow." She said taking another huge chunk of sandwich into her mouth.
"Yeah, how's Lena?" he asked, scratching the huge dogs giant fuzzy ears. Although she was supposedly a purebred, she had chocolate brown eyes and was thin and agile, unlike the burly blue eyed Siberian husky that the world identified. She wore a red cloth vest that had "service dog" printed in bold letters on the back.
"Good for the most part." She said, referring to the dog. "Yesterday at Jimmy's dinner she freaked when she saw Mr. Thomas with his new walker." She laughed, Troy chuckling along with her.
"Cara!" Miley shouted, rushing into the kitchen with her brunette waves flying behind her.
"Hey Miley! How was the audition?" she asked, grabbing her pinkie and spinning her in a circle to observe her. She was younger than them, they were going to be seniors, she a sophomore, but she looked like she could defiantly pass as a junior, maybe a senior.
"I'm really nervous, the dialogue went great, but I think I may have flopped the song." She explained.
"Sharpay thinks you have a really good chance." Troy offered up, supporting his younger sister. She smiled nervously at him.
"What was the song?" Cara asked, suddenly filled with curiosity. She was re-doing the high ponytail, which her naturally straight hair made easy.
"I sang Teardrops on my Guitar, by Taylor Swift." Miley told them with a shrug.
Cara leaped up with a squeal, causing Troy to spit out some of the sandwich that he had stolen from her; both girls looked at him with disgust. Lena's ears perked up at the noise and she went over to sniff Cara, but determined she was fine and laid back down by Troy.
"That's one of my favorite songs!" Cara squeaked, "Sing it for me?" she pleaded with her cousin, throwing the last bit of the sandwich into her mouth.
Miley blushed at the request but replied simply "Fine, but only a little bit."
"Sing the part you think you messed up." Troy suggested.
Miley took a deep breath and began to sing in a clear honey-like voice, with a bit of a southern style accent.
"She better hold him tight, give him all her love. Oh, look in those beautiful eyes, and know she's lucky 'cause… He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar, the only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star. Yes, he's the song in the car I keep singing don't know why I do…"
After a moment of silence, Cara was the first to speak up.
"They'd be damn crazy not to pick you." She said, stunned by the performance. She gave her cousin a gigantic hug "You're so good." She told her.
"You'll get it Miles." Troy assured, giving his sister a half hug.
"Troy, I'm back from violin!" a sweet voice called out, and in through the entry way, past the family room, down the hall, and into the kitchen came Dakota. Dakota had beautiful blond hair like Cara's, cut an inch above her shoulder. She was petite and always wore the cutest sundresses and flats. She was the musical talent of the family. Troy had basketball, Cara had dance, Miley had singing and acting, and little Shiloh had painting.
"Hey Dakota!" Cara said, grabbing her up and twirling her around, Dakota giggled and waved hi to Troy. As Cara set her down she ran to Miley and engulfed her in a hug.
"Miley! I've missed you so much!" She told her, burying her face into Miley's stomach.
"I haven't gone anywhere." Miley told her, confused to Dakota's excitement to see her.
"Miley, today is Saturday, I haven't seen you since Monday. You've been at voice and acting lessons, hip hop, shopping, at Jimmy's, and sleeping over at friends houses." Dakota told her. Miley smiled sadly.
"Wow, I guess you're right, I haven't been around as much. But you spent last week when I was home at your Girl Scout troops camp." Miley pointed out, causing Dakota to sigh.
"Wow Troy, you must be home alone a lot." Dakota said, as if she was realizing something important. Troy just sighed underneath his breathe, he hated living with so many girls, he was a teenage guy, he avoided talking emotional at all times.
"I enjoy the silence." He told them mock glaring at them, causing laughter of all the girls and Troy to fill the kitchen.
"Mommy, Daddy?" A young voice called, making the laughter die down at once. Four-year-old Shiloh bounded into the kitchen, a large painting flapping in her hand. She had the lightest blonde wavy curls that fell down to her shoulders. She had gorgeous eyes, and pink coloring in her smooth round baby cheeks. The happiness in her face died down when she saw that yet again, her parents weren't home.
Nobody said anything, thinking to themselves. They all realized that Shiloh had heard the laughter and happiness and thought that Lucille and Jack had come home. Cara sighed inwardly; she hadn't known things were this bad for them. Troy wouldn't show it, but she could tell he was having a hard time.
"Come on guys, I'm taking you to Jimmy's, my treat!" Cara announced, sweeping the Bolton family out the door, with Lena romping happily behind them.
As soon as they got there Lena took up her usual post at the jukebox while the family grabbed a booth. The 50's diner was a favorite of the whole town; it had an arcade, live performances on some nights, karaoke nights, and great greasy food. The only downside was that the owner's son, Jimmy jr. Jimmy was Miley's age and had a creepy crush on her, borderline stalker.
Right away Miley was bombarded by Jimmy, who was quick to compliment her hair, facial features, and every item of clothing and jewelry she wore. She quickly excused herself to the restroom to avoid further torture. Troy gave Dakota and Shiloh money for tokens, and they rushed off.
"Look at her painting." Cara said sadly, pushing it across the table to Troy. He gripped the edges until his knuckles turned white, staring at the image before him.
You could easily make out Troy's figure, he was the tallest, had medium brown hair color, and was wearing red and gold. The basketball he held was a major hint as well. Miley was the figure with the yellow top and capri's, with long dark brown lines for hair. Dakota had yellow hair and a big light pink dress on. Cara was included with a lavender shirt and jean skirt, her hair up in its ponytail. Lena also had a spot in the upper right hand corner, with a giant paw print. The top of the painting was titled "My family" in what was Matilda's mother's handwriting.
Troy flipped the painting over and it slid it back across the table to Cara, who had a concerned look on face. She didn't need to say it; Jack and Lucille weren't in the picture. Shiloh hadn't painted her parent's.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Cara asked quietly, in just a whisper of a voice.
"No." he began, "I figured if I was home all the time, it might not be as noticeable. Miley didn't seem to effected, she misses them but that's that. Dakota picked up right away that I was now the new parental figure, and adapted accordingly. I figured Shiloh was to young, to young to really grasp the concept. I didn't even realize she wouldn't understand what was going on. But Care, they aren't coming back until school starts, and it's only the middle of June." He said, his voice cracking at the end of his explanation.
"I'm sorry." Cara told him, having no idea what else to say.
"Saying that just makes it worse, they are the adults, they should be the ones who should be apologizing. I mean, I haven't told them yet. How am I going to tell the three of them that our parents won't come back until school starts, I can't even handle it myself." He told her.
"Maybe you just need something to tide the time, like a project." She suggested. "You just need something to work on all summer and keep busy, something you can do and bond together as a family. Something that's always there." She told him.
"I dunno Care, what do you have in mind?" he asked her.
"That's the part I'm working on," she told him, resting her chin on her elbow in thought. Jimmy came to the table to place three orders of fries, and disappear. Cara squirted ketchup over hers, she and Miley would share.
The music died down in the red diner, some sort of quiet song that Mr. Thomas had requested came on. Cara noticed Shiloh giving Lena a hug and picked up the conversation "I love you sooooo much Lena! You make me happy, and I know that you won't leave. You'll stay right here." Shiloh said, carrying on her conversation with Lena. However, Cara wasn't listening, the wheels were turning, and soon, she had a plan.
Miley had thought it safe enough to come out, and sat on the inside of Troy, in the hope that it would deter Jimmy for the rest of the evening.
"So Miley, your brother and I have decided that the family is getting a puppy." She told her, bright smile on her face.
"Really! I've always wanted a puppy! We're getting a puppy!" she squealed, climbing over the back of the booth to rush and tell Shiloh and Dakota.
"We're getting a puppy? Really?" Troy asked Cara, skeptical of this new plan.
"Really really!" she confirmed with a smile.
That's chapter one! Please Review this, it would mean a lot to me.
Some facts and info:
Lena is my service dog in real life, and that is what she looks like.
Miley is based on Miley Cyrus, I'm not a fan, but I needed to find a family somewhere. Only one of her songs is planned to appear in this story. She may or may not have a romance (I would need suggestions) but either way is a secondary character.
Dakota is based on Dakota Fanning, only as she was at eight years old. I think she's thirteen or something now, I really don't know. Her personality is sensitive but otherwise based on the character she played in the movie "Uptown Girls".
Shiloh is based on Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. She's two in real life, but in this story she's four, so you're going to have to use your imagination. She has the personality of my little sister, and is basically your average four-year-old girl.
Matilda is based on Heeth Ledger's daughter. She's two in real life, but in this story she's four, so use your imagination.
Cara is based on my friend, and my imagination. In real life she's 16, and for now she is that age in this story. Hats off to her for convincing me to get writing again!
Mr. Thomas is my neighbor with a walker who gardens. Everyday I come home it goes like this:
I step off the bus
"Why hello there!" he says
"Hello." I respond, approaching him like my parents make me
"Well, aren't you the cutest?" he says, probably thinks I'm three
"Thank you." I respond, wanting to run to Mexico or somewhere far
"Well a pretty little thing like you ought to have a pretty name, what's your name cutie?" he asks, making me think he may have been a sex offender at some point in life
"Meredith." I tell him.
"What a fine name for a fine girl, well scadaddle, I've got flowers to bloom." He says and I run away.
Everyday it goes like that, because he never remembers my name. I've known him for three years. So I thought that since my dog attacked his walker I'd mention it here.
~Meredith
With the right amount of reviews, the next chapter should be out later this week. Friday to Sunday however, I may be on vacation, so there's the possibility of delays. But I plan to update often with long chapters.