Hey!
Here's the upload, I know it's been a while but here it is. Enjoy (:
I hesitated, looking at the hand that Troy lent out to get a grasp on Sheldon who was willingly looking at him, his thumb reaching forward. I had to make a decision fast, if I let him go take Sheldon inside, I might as well get shot and live through pain that way than having to face Gabriella.
But if I go away, what does that resolve? He just wants to hold him. Oh god damn it! Get yourself together Sharpay, stay true to your heart and keep your kid away from the scum bag.
I sighed. Troy didn't mean any of this. I brought this on myself as well. I should have called, begged, pleaded like he waited. Sure, he did tell Gabriella about us and—oh no! Gabriella, not her. I don't need a monogamous devil to get on my back anytime soon. Might as well have—someone shoot me.
I'm internally struggling with myself.
"Please." He begged, licking his lips as he lowered his head, crunching his nose to make some sort of an affect, which I wasn't able to comprehend.
"Ice-cream mama." Sheldon smacked my cheek gently, his saliva that was sprouting down his thumb, smeared across my nose as well as the rest of my face. Flew in all different directions and it made my baby laugh.
"What about Gabriella? I can't take a risk, I just—you know I can't." I breathed, his arm rested on my fingers, "Right now, it's about me and you. I swear on you that nothing will happen."
I snorted, "You see my problem, you're swearing on my life. Is this your way of trying to tell me that I'm going to get jumbled by a pregnant psycho?" I took my hand to scurry through my hair, "Nothing." He firmly stated, pulling back and waiting back for answer.
"What are you going to say? To others? I'm freaking out that your mother hasn't find out about Sheldon, he looks just like you! She has raised you and she can't even see the freaking resemblance? What if your grandma—"
"She passed away a while ago." He interrupted, smiling, "Oh well I'm sorry," I frowned, "What if your grandpa—"
"He's been consuming so much alcohol in his life that his brain cells became toxic by it. He calls me my father's name and goes on with his life as if nothing changed. And nothing will since he doesn't remember what happens the next moment. Quite entertaining I tell you."
"Troy." I groaned and he put his hands out in front of me and shook his head, "Please. If anything happens, you have every right to spring a shot gun out of your knick knacks and personally shoot me. Get a double 2.0 and get some satisfaction?" He wrinkled his eyebrows, seeing if that convinced me.
"Knick knacks?" I asked, chuckling, "It's an upgrade, right?" He shrugged his shoulders.
It was silent and reality touched my face. I began to hear the voices rambling inside, the music flowed through my ears, the scent of the food burnt my tongue and my throat, causing the immediate reaction of the grumbling of my stomach.
"I'm hungry!" Sheldon shouted and I didn't think twice when I placed my palm over his mouth. He still went off to scream without restrictions. Couldn't understand when my mouth made it hard to do so. Even without me covering him, his speech was rather, how do I say it, underdeveloped?
"Don't torture the kid. Come on Sharpay, just put your fear away for a second and look at him, he's starving." He pleaded, and I saw what he meant. Sheldon's stomach kept rumbling against my chest and it wasn't right for me to leave when there was crabs being served right next door. For free!
I nodded, slowly and he placed a hand behind my back, pushing me inside the doors. I adjusted Sheldon into my arms, then my bag, making sure to remove my hand away from his mouth, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it baby."
He silently wept, using his tiny fingers to wipe his tears away, "Here, let me." Troy grabbed Sheldon, as if he was tearing him away from me, "Don't worry. Just going to show him the wonders of gourmet." He assured me.
"Wait!" I called out, seeing their retreating figures, "He's lactose and tolerant. Also allergic to peanuts and dislikes oranges. Be careful."
"Oranges?" He chuckled, "Well don't look at me. I'm expecting it to be from your side." I said it without considering whom were beside me. They weren't paying attention, thank god. Troy didn't seem to care or notice either, whatever the case was, he saluted me and walked away.
I was still angry at him. Heck, I wanted to take these china platters and squash it against his head until he bled to death. If I could, I would have taken up his offer and took a gun out of my knick knacks and pointed at his head. If only I had a gun and if only I wasn't so weak around him.
I walked towards the beverage table, glancing to stare at the service. It was elegant in it's own shape.
It was obvious that Gabriella could have never done this. She had a hard choice choosing between Versace or Armani, that's a rather rude insult if she picked either.
Ah, the joy of talking about designer labels when I didn't have any right nor the money to do so. Hell I was glad I was far away from that life. Nothing meant more than my son. He was all that I needed now. Not some stupid shots of cognac, a nasty taste I must say.
But it couldn't hurt. Damn, what was wrong with me today? I get one opportunity, unfortunately, to be pulled back into the god forsaken world of hags and I'm taking advantage of it? No way Jose.
I pulled back in disgust and didn't watch when my neck collided gently against someone's glass.
"I'm so sorry." I immediately apologized to see if I caused any harm, glad to see that the people just smiled at me to see if I was alright, their old gleaming faces searching for any problems within what happened.
"Are you alright my dear?" I nodded, pressing my shirt down to only see how out of place I was. This seemed more of a black tie evening, seeing how everyone was wearing ties and black and I was in cheap rags. Didn't know the occasion, so what am I supposed to be ashamed of?
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't watch where I was walking. I apologize once again for walking back into your glass. I can get you another drink?" She wrinkled her forehead at me, "If you'd like?" I took a step back, wondering why she was staring at me with such intent.
"Have we met before?" She asked and I mumbled a, "No," at her before I felt my throat tightening. Maybe we have met before, maybe she came to one of mom's banquets and has come forward to introduce herself to me but I might have ignored her.
God this place was killing my head.
"No, I'm sure I've seen you somewhere."
"I…I don't, I'm," I stopped, waiting for her to recapture her thoughts and really wonder whether or not she met me before. She is an old lady, could have a memory relapse like Troy's grandpa.
I looked behind her to see if I could spot him and Sheldon, needing him desperately to get me out of this frantic situation. This woman could possibly be my mother in disguise if anything. Hell, she could be my grandmother.
"Oh I remember now." She clasped her hands and gave me a large grin, her pearls came into view under her sags that formed on her neck.
Something changed in the way she looked at me. Evil larked in her eyes, her mouth twisting into an monstrous smirk, as if she knew what we had. Me and Troy. I didn't like it, so I excused myself politely and drifted away. Far away.
I searched for them both, continuously, my eyes twitching when I couldn't find them, "Damn you Bolton." I muttered under my breath, carelessly dragging my bag on my shoulders as I went to the back, thankful to see them.
"This is a large place," I yelled, reaching forward to grab some punch, Troy turned to smile at me, "If I can't find your or you are not in my eyesight with him, I will kill you. Respectably kill you."
"Will that offer is still up." He reminded me, carrying Sheldon as if he was an aircraft, causing him to smile, "If you don't try this, I will lift you and soar you in the sky, do you want that?"
Sheldon nodded, "Are you sure?" Troy mischievously cooed and then ducked him before soaring him up in the air, his hands were steady enough to keep him up there.
"Be careful." I remarked, mostly worried of who will see us. And ask why Troy is not with his pregnant wife and is spending time with a girl he went to high school with. Especially to why he looks like the freaking boy next to him!
"Troy stop that." I hissed, tugging his tux when I felt myself get uncomfortable, "I'm just kidding with the fellow." He laughed, tickling Sheldon's neck until his face turned beet red. In a good way.
"Someone will see." I tucked the falling piece of hair behind my back and I heard him exhale, understanding my situation, "Sorry about that."
"And he just ate," I added, "I don't want him to get sick and puke and cause attention and have Gabriella—" Troy grabbed my hand from talking further, lowering his head as he tried to look at me with a stern face whilst Sheldon was giggling in his hands, "Don't even think about her. Her mind is so self absorbed that I bet she can't even tell that I'm gone."
"But someone else will," I retorted, "That woman over there noticed me. She first was very nice when I apologized for running into her but when it clicked in her mind that she saw me somewhere else, she gave this evil smirk. It's like the movie, 'Crazies', this woman is crazy! She's going to attack me. I can just sense it!" I talked real fast and Troy hushed beside me.
"Calm down Sharpay, breathe," He whispered against my ear, looking side to side, "It's gonna be alright. Alright?" I wanted to nod and believe him, but look what I was doing? Putting myself in the den's chamber, giving someone a chance to tear me into pieces.
"Most of them are drunk here. Don't worry about these people. They're out of their minds. I'm pretty sure she felt as if you reminded her of her childhood rival and blah blah, blah, blah blah," he scoffed, "they have no manners. We can outlive them. Together."
"My eye." I mumbled, tucking my arms into my sweater, trying to get comfortable, "And even if they do, my offer still stands. You really can shoot me."
I slapped his shoulder and then I tensed. What was I doing? Getting normal with this guy? I am supposed to be mad. I am supposed to not even touch him! Bloody hell. That's right, I said bloody hell.
"Sorry." I mumbled and ducked my head to see Sheldon who was strangely quiet, winking at me when my face came into view of his, "Don't be. You've got nothing to be sorry about." I couldn't tell if he meant for what happened now or if he brought up the past.
It got uncomfortable again.
"Oh so you've decided to stay!" Vivviane raised her hands in the air and then leaned into me to give me a huge hug, taking my breath out of my mouth.
"Just for a while." I choked and she pulled back, pouting, "Sorry, didn't mean that my dear. I just haven't seen you in a while and I'm so glad you're staying, it's wonderful. Oh! I'm so excited. So much to talk about."
"I'm sure you have many waiting for you, Mrs—Vivianne." I corrected, shyly looking away.
"Nonsense. I've met these people and talked to them more than I've seen the local priest. Now come on, let's go surprise Gabriella."
Troy raised his eyes, diving into the conversation, "Mom, Sharpay really needs to eat. Maybe later. Really, I insist. Later," He emphasized, "And she must be having her psycho hormones raging up so I'm pretty sure Sheldon doesn't need to see that. And did I mention that Sharpay is really hungry."
"What is going on with you Troy?" She frowned, "That is rude and not respectful towards your wife," I flinched and Troy looked at me to shut his eyes closed, "Sharpay is here to not only enjoy the food but to meet her classmate, right dear?"
What do I agree with her for?
"Don't interrupt again and make yourself look pathetic." She strictly spoke to him like what a mother would do when she's disappointed in her child. It was frightening and sickening, "I'm not so sure if that's a good—that's not a good idea." I replied hastily.
"Mom, it really isn't," Troy interrupted, his eyes still shut, "Psh posh, who are you to speak for Sharpay. Come on my dear, she's right in the corner. She will be delighted to see you. Oh, maybe you can give her some tips. Young girls know what they're talking about. What am I? An old hag that knows to keep her thumb in her son's mouth to keep him shut."
She pulled me forward, "I don't think I can. I feel light headed and I really should sit down, it's not," she pulled me even further anyway, Troy falling behind us, "Mom, don't force her." He sighed.
"You're saying it as if I'm feeding her drugs. It's a reunion Troy, not a drug deal." She laughed, "Please Vivianne, I really don't want to do this. Please. I don't think I can face her."
"And why not?" She questioned, halting to look at me, "Why's that Sharpay? Sure, you might have not got along in senior year, but years have passed my dear. Things change, humans change, we progress to become mature. That's life."
When I looked at her silently, she took it as an answer to walk on, "Mom, just listen to—" she cut him off abruptly, "Troy Nicholas Bolton, I will not repeat myself to you under any circumstance. Stop being so selfish and arrogant and help your mother and relax to what I'm doing for god's sake."
Troy snapped.
"Did she not just say that she doesn't want to fucking walk over there and talk to her!" Troy yelled, grabbing my hand, pulling me back against him, "Why do you have to insist continuously? Can't you see that she's not in the mood?"
He groaned, placing Sheldon in my arms, "It's not always you're way mother. She's a human being that is trying to tell you to let go of her and saying that she just wants to eat. What the hell can't you understand?"
Her lips quivered and I felt guilty. I shouldn't have come. This would have never happened, Troy would have never fought with her, he would have never yelled at his own mother and put himself in this situation.
God she looks broken.
As if he read my mind, he leaned to whisper against my cheek, "I had to do that. It's not your fault." He assured me and I felt that queasiness once again. The one I felt when I first kissed Troy. It started small and then spread throughout my stomach and up my throat. A feeling that made me nauseous in a good way. It hurt in a loving way.
He held me up and I knew why. Everyone was looking at us, everyone. Troy's tantrum came out louder than it should have and it grabbed the attention of every snapping head in the hall.
"Well, I—that was," Vivianne stuttered and I jumped in to save her the embarrassment, "I shouldn't have come. This would have never happened. If I left at first then he wouldn't have done what he did. I'm so—" Troy gripped my shoulder, shaking his head, "I'm sorry." I refused to acknowledge his hand, shaking it away.
"I really am sorry." I repeated.
Vivianne chuckled, her face the color of a tomato in the ripening season, she was humiliated. I could tell. I knew how it felt to be like her. God, I knew that I needed to do something before it got out of hand.
"Sharpay." I bit my mouth, tightening my eyelids shut when I recognized that voice. Hell, when she walked in front of me, I knew it was her. I didn't have to even look to tell that Gabriella was standing in front of me.
"Sharpay," she repeated, "Well, this is a pleasure. I haven't seen you in a while and now that I have, it's when Troy is yelling." She clasped her hands, satisfied.
Troy scoffed, wiping his palms on his shirt as he took a step forward, "Mom I didn't mean to yell, I didn't mean it at all." He skipped Gabriella, immediately apologizing to his mother.
I couldn't look away though. Because she stared and she noticed. Her eyes widened as they were on Sheldon and then back on me and then to Troy. She knew and she wasn't going to let go. I was sure of that. I was sure of that when she stood silent, letting Troy talk with his mother, I was sure of that when her nails simultaneously collapsed onto her elbow. She was furious. In a gentle way.
"It's all just a misunderstanding," she waved her hand, dismissing the goggling eyes, "Our friend here is a protégé in Broadway, practicing at a baby shower." She laughed, others joining. But I saw the cruel intentions within. As did Troy. Whose face washed with guilt all over.
As if on cue, everyone's heads snapped away, back to their drinks and to their pastries and caviar. Nothing else mattered except the food and the delicacy of the tantrum happening nearby. Their eyes were towards each other but their ears were plastered into the conversation.
Troy moved to my side, his body was more tense than I was and it scared me. For the first time, in what seemed like forever, I reached for his hand and wrapped my lanky one around it, taking a deep breath, preparing myself for the worst.
"What was that Troy?" Vivanne asked profoundly, confused rather than angry, "I didn't know Sharpay talking to Gabriella would get you so fused up."
Troy slid his palm to mine, rubbing my wrist, "Do you want to tell me what's going on or is there a reason for what you just did."
She crossed her arms, her voice wheezing into hysteria. She was hurt, "Mama," Sheldon mumbled against my neck and I simply nodded as my response. He rubbed my back and that instantly told me that he was worried. Worried for me.
All I could do was kiss the top of his head, mumbling 'I love you' a couple of times and then telling him to try to sleep on my shoulder and not to make a fuss even when he hears yelling. Simply, I stated to him, 'Mommy in trouble, pretend to sleep, back home tomorrow'.
"It doesn't matter why," Gabriella spoke flatly, "Brought my organs to flutter but that's normal isn't it?" Her dry humor was sickening, "Troy has had to renew his contract so he's a little stressed. They cut his time short and removed his time limit on the games, his season is shortened and well—well the rent's due."
Vivianne made a face such that it was shoving into your head to the question of 'Why didn't you just tell me? And this is the explanation to why you snapped?'
Jesus, I didn't know Troy was in crisis. If I did, that would have been a different story wouldn't it have? He was already in problems. God, where the hell is a gun when you desperately need it. I could pull the trigger and put him out of this misery.
Troy's mouth hung slightly open, bewildered at what Gabriella said, "I—I did—sure?" He shrugged his shoulders and then gulped, causing his apple lump to notion from bottom to up, "Sure. Yeah…that. It was just something I didn't want to—to tell, to tell you." He stated more firmly, unconvinced of himself.
It was a huge utter lie but it was plausible enough for Vivianne to believe, for now, "We didn't want to worry you Viv, it was a temporary thing, at least that's what we thought. Sorry about that." She placed a gently hand on Troy's mother's shoulder, rubbing her neck.
"Well if someone has told me before, I would have took precautions and done something to help. I mean, if you needed money, you could have asked dear." Troy groaned, "Mom that's not what I wanted to do. I can handle myself, I'm a grown up."
"Yeah, well you've handled whatever problem you're going through so well." Vivianne rolled her eyes, showing how much she eased up to her son and her daughter-in law, "Mom, I know-"
"Well whatever it is, now that this situation makes some sort of sense to me," Gabriella leaned in, "Let's just go back to the shower, I'll get you a drink and we can just pretend that none of this ever happened, the use of vulgarity, I mean." She suggested, obviously compromising with Vivianne, making sure she agreed with what Gabriella put out.
I thought that Gabriella would stay behind and want to say a word or two but she left with Vivianne, giving both of us a smile.
"What is going on?" I asked this time, moving away from Troy, "Why wasn't she yelling or creating a scene or doing anything? I noticed the way she looked at Sheldon, she knows! Why was she so quiet?"
Troy went through his hair, sighing in relief as well as with absurdness, "I-I don't-I don't know? I didn't think that..." He was speechless as much as I was. He couldn't get one word out anymore and I turned away to retrieve my thoughts.
There was nothing more to say.
