Under One roof

Chapter two

Going Too Far

Principal Gary Mason paced in front of the two girls. He was sick of their two-year bickering and was appalled when it reached the point where they used their fists and turned the hallway into a makeshift arena.

"Have you no shame?" he hissed banging his fists on his desk. The two girls glanced at each other before turning back to their principal.

"I have never seen such unruly behavior in my term here in Marlborough! Weren't you thought some class?! You are both juniors, ergo expected to act more mature than little five year olds fighting over a toy! And you are both leaders – aren't you ashamed of the example you just set out there?!" the principal took deep calming breaths, "Look, since this is the first time this happened, I'm going to excuse you; no suspension as of now but be warned, you're parents will know about this."

Valerie and Ashley both exited the principal's office without saying a word to each other. They headed off in different directions and acted like nothing happened.

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Troy was watching over his team like a hawk until the assistant coach approached him holding his phone. He gave Troy an apologetic look before taking over for his temporary absence.

"Hello?" Troy said in an impatient voice.

"Mr. Bolton?" the unfamiliar yet authoritative voice asked on the other line.

"Yes, who is this?"

"This is Principal Gary Mason – from Marlborough School. It's about Valerie Bolton…"

This was a call that no parent ever wanted to receive. Troy tried not to think of the worst as he waited with bated breath for the news to fall.

"She has been involved in a fistfight with another student and her unacceptable decorum is what I wanted to talk to you about…"

Troy said that he'll be there. Of all the things he was expecting, his daughter involved in a fistfight wasn't one of them. Valerie was the type who could argue with you to the end but never get physical. He asked his assistant to watch over until the end of training as he headed towards his daughter's school.

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"You are the only woman I love… don't leave me." Johnny Depp's rusty yet suave voice held the desperation of a man about to be left by his woman and echoed around the studio. Sharpay looked up and caressed the man's rugged cheeks as she blinked back tears of hurt.

"I have to go… I have to," she whispered her lips trembling as the tears finally slid down her cheeks. Johnny held her closer to him burying his face in her blond locks.

"Oh my God…" he whispered and was about to continue his line when the two were interrupted by Sharpay's assistant, Edna, rushing towards them.

"Ms. Evans, a Principal Gary Mason for you – from Marlborough." Sharpay's eyes widened at the sound of her daughter's school and she pushed Johnny away immediately taking the phone. Johnny Depp just smiled, secretly relieved, since he was craving for doughnuts. At 63 years old, he was still on a roll but for some reason, his appetite grew, yet the audience still thought he was hot. In a corner, far away from the set, Sharpay tried to hold on to the phone which threatened to slip from her grip since she was worried about her daughter. Edna took the phone from her boss and put it on her ear.

"Hello?" she asked wondering what on earth happened to Ashley. She looked helplessly at Johnny who just shrugged and went to the buffet table. The director yelled 'cut' and watched Sharpay hurrying away giving her a thumbs-up indicating that he understood her situation.

"Ms. Evans?" an authoritative voice asked.

"Yes…"

"I'm sorry to interrupt what I am sure to be your shooting, but this is regarding your daughter, Ashley. She was involved in a fistfight with another student…"

Sharpay immediately assured the principal of her attendance and told the director that she had important matters to attend to. As she was about to leave, she looked over at Johnny who was busy eating a doughnut.

"Johnny, Ash says hi!" she called out.

"Tell her I said 'hi' too," he yelled after her with his mouth full.

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Troy arrived first and was listening to the principal's briefing when Sharpay burst into the office looking very harassed and gave him a glare before sitting on the chair next to him. Troy studied her from the corner of his eye but retained his austere demeanor but the animosity he reserved throughout the whole drive was slowly ebbing away into a feeling of adoration. She was a beauty!

The principal observed the two parents and noted that the two have never seen each other before based from the coldness they showed each other.

"Ms. Evans, I am happy you could join us. This is Mr. Troy Bolton, coach of the LA Lakers – Mr. Bolton, Ms. Sharpay Evans." Gary Mason introduced the two and Troy couldn't help but feel a little giddy since he was meeting another Hollywood actress, he remembered her now – one that would really enamor him had the matters not been so serious, his ex-wife used to yak about her non-stop and he had watched some of her movies.

"So, as I was saying, your daughters have both made the hallway into an arena and this type of behavior is unacceptable in my school. We expect our girls to show the proper decorum at all times and fistfights of this sort is the first, as far as I remember. I am also aware that they have been having this rivalry for almost their entire highschool lives now and I want it to stop. This has finally gone too far and I am appealing to you both, to help me stop this." Gary looked at the parents who seemed shocked at the news.

"But… Valerie is not the type to pick fights. I mean she can really argue but a fistfight?" Troy reasoned not believing that his daughter would intentionally punch someone – not unless they deserve it.

"As she tried to explain a while ago, Ms. Evans intentionally let her script fall on her foot." Gary Mason explained glancing at Troy as did Sharpay.

"Well, Ashley hates physical violence and I doubt she'd intentionally hit anyone with anything." Sharpay defended her daughter as she looked pointedly at Troy.

"Okay, well my daughter can be tough when she needs to be but hitting other students – not happening in her lifetime." Troy frowned at Sharpay.

"But she just did," the principal supplied making Troy glare at him.

"Oh… uhm… then she didn't start it. Didn't you say her daughter did?" Troy stammered but still looked defensively at the principal and Sharpay.

"My daughter never starts a fight!" Sharpay exclaimed looking really offended. She sat up straighter than before and crossed her arms in front of her.

"Well my daughter never does either – unless you take away her five slices of pizza or the remote control when she's watching TV – but what does it matter?!" Troy half-yelled irritably.

"Ashley can't even squish a fly even if her life depended on it." Sharpay snapped giving Troy a death glare. The man squirmed under her glare but he didn't back down – that was a first.

"Well, I think I know now why my two students act the way they do around each other. Role models are huge influences." Gary Mason sarcastically said looking at the two glaring parents and effectively putting a stopper on their quarrel.

Troy seemed to snap back to reality and gave the principal a sheepish grin while Sharpay grinned shyly and placed a strand of golden hair behind her ear.

"Okay, well, please promise to help me the best way you can," the principal told them and dismissed the two from his office shaking his head.

The two hurriedly left the office after a hasty goodbye and when they were safely out of earshot, Sharpay turned to Troy ready to give the man a taste of her wrath. But before she could open her mouth to give him hell, he abruptly changed demeanor.

"Will you go out to dinner with me?" he asked excitedly and Sharpay's eyes widened as she wondered where in God's name did that come from?

"What?" was all she could come up with and the man coughed nervously as he ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

"What I mean is… uh… let's go… for coffee?" he attempted again looking unsure of what he just uttered but replacing it with a charming grin.

"I repeat what?" Sharpay snapped narrowing her eyes at him. She had guys, fans actually, hitting on her but the father of her daughter's rival? Weird much?

"To… discuss – about… our… daughters behavior." Troy stammered trying to rectify his first two mistakes. He gave the woman a lopsided grin hoping she would accept. It has been a while since he asked any woman out and this particular woman, who just happened to be his daughter's rival's mother, just might be the one.

He just spent a good ten minutes defending his daughter's honor in front of her and the spunk she showed just sparked something in him. He hadn't felt this way since he first met his ex-wife, Vivienne Woods.

"Uhm, I guess we could." Sharpay agreed and followed him to his car. She wasn't sure what he wanted but since they have to discuss their daughters, she felt that the sooner the better.

"I know just the place – just follow me." Troy said cheerfully before getting into his Bentley whilst Sharpay unsurely got into her Corvette.

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A good half hour later, the two cars parked at Venice Beach. This secretly relieved Sharpay since she was still unsure of his sudden mood swing. She knew her house was just… a… hundred… miles away. They were on the other end of the beach.

Troy got out and walked towards her seemingly enjoying the place. It was full of people who weren't just tourists. There were some who played instruments on the sidewalk their hats or baskets waiting for coins or dollars just to get them through the day. There were ice cream vendors who sold a variety of flavors along with gypsy like men and women selling colorful clothes and jewelry and the place was just bustling with so much life Sharpay was so amazed she dab smack in the middle of it!

Men who looked like impoverished writers, poets, artists and the like littered the streets and seemingly unending lines of colorful little cafes and bookstores that lined the dusty street.

Sharpay was enthralled and she walked slower than usual trying to savor as much as she could. Her companion didn't seem to mind as he slowed his pace to match hers. She also couldn't help but notice that he looked like a little kid on his first trip to the toy store. Undoubtedly he wore the same expression Ashley did when she took her to Toys R Us for the first time.

"You know this place?" Sharpay asked turning to Troy.

"Yeah, used to go here when I was younger – it's called the Boho Republic – though not officially," he explained like a teacher educating his star pupil on something really important.

"Boho? Like bohemian or something?" Sharpay clarified and he nodded before stopping and pointing to a little building at the end.

"Yeah, I was all for the 'free spirit' thing, y'know?" he told her with a wide grin and she just laughed.

"Who would ever have thought? I always took you for the 'I'm-a-sportsman-man'," she joked and he just snorted rolling his eyes at her.

"I am a 'sportsman-man' but this is just sideline. But still, I do enjoy it," he muttered and opened the door for her. Sharpay didn't even know they reached the place already. Talking to him was the same as seeing time fly by: fun.

The "place" turned out to be a little café which had a good view of the beach and was overflowing with the bohemian spirit. With all the wood, beads and the heavy scent of herb tea, Troy and Sharpay were transported into a land where time didn't exist – only the poetry readers on the makeshift stage on the corner with a red spotlight on them, their own jars of herb tea (yes – it wasn't a typo or a lack of a better word; I put in their 'jar', work with me here) and their own little booth.

Time seemed to stop the moment the door closed and blocked out the sound of the people outside of the little Boho community. Troy and Sharpay both sipped their tea and listened to the poetry reader for a while enjoying the comfortable silence between them.

"Well, has anyone ever known of your little haven?" Sharpay asked teasingly shooting him a furtive glance which he pretended not to notice.

"My children know – but besides them, no one else does." Troy told her shooting her a wink.

"Really? I know for a fact that you are Viv's ex so don't tell me that she doesn't know –"she was cut off by Troy sending her a look that were somewhat along the lines of 'you've-gone-too-far'.

"She does but she hates this place." Troy told her curtly and immediately regretting it. Sharpay looked taken aback by his sudden change of mood.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean the way I sounded. I thought Viv was a great person and we were in love and all and we were engaged when I decided to show her this side of me. Turns out she didn't like it and I accepted it as one of the facts that a spouse can't really like but accepts just the same. But 'not liking' was an underestimation. I was forbidden to come here for Christ's sake! It was bad for her image…" he ranted and laughed at the last part. Sharpay smiled kindly at this man who just told her some sordid detail that would be hot gossip – so Vivienne Woods, another one of Hollywood's top actresses, actually hated Boho - something to prattle about for those who have nothing better to do with their lives. But of course, she would never rat out on a fellow actress. That was unethical and not to mention uncalled for, since Vivienne Woods has done nothing to her.

"Well, having another adult with you here must be… liberating," Sharpay joked but was surprised when Troy looked straight into her eyes and nodded.

"You have no idea," he conceded and suddenly, it was the start of something… for the both of them.

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The two spent the whole afternoon talking about random things. From their childhood to politics, no topic ever seemed boring for them as they drank more and more herb tea.

"What is your deepest, darkestsecret?" Sharpay asked looking deeply into Troy's eyes. The man looked back at her and choked on his drink. He coughed while Sharpay laughed.

"Why would… you want to know… that?!" he sputtered making her laugh harder.

"Exactly my point," she said but Troy didn't get her point.

"Please tell me." Sharpay pleaded giving him a slight pout and keeping eye contact. Troy gave her one look and immediately felt something within him snap and he listened to himself in horror as he recounted a tale only he, his kindergarten teacher and his parents knew about…

"There was this one time that I was in first grade and I was playing with my classmates in the sandbox when I felt my stomach feeling all bad and stuff but I didn't mind it. Then I… passed wind…" he was cut off by Sharpay rolling her eyes.

"Farted – c'mon the word won't kill me – maybe the action itself but never the word," she teased.

"Okay… so I farted big time and my friends just laughed their asses off. Then we continued playing but something was really whacked about it…" it was the part he dreaded the most and he sighed.

"OH MY GAWD don't tell me you pooped in your pants?!" squealed an overeager Sharpay. Troy gave her a petrified look as the whole café went silent except for Sharpay, who was crying while laughing, her laughter sounding like the pleasant tinkling of chimes as the winds breeze through it. She hugged her sides and doubled over still not getting the mental image out of her head.

"Yes… I did." Troy said through gritted teeth but fortunately, the silence was abated as quickly as it had come and the tension seemed to have been lifted since Sharpay's outburst.

"I'm sorry… it was just so funny." Sharpay said in between last minute giggles as she wiped away her tears of mirth as Troy looked on sipping his tea.

"What if you're in hell, and you're mad at someone, where would you tell them to go?" Troy suddenly asked giving Sharpay a serious look. She gave him an 'are you crazy' look and shrugged.

"I'll tell them to go f*** themselves for all I care," she said in a 'devil may care' tone leaving Troy openmouthed at her bluntness.

"Anymore questions?" she asked sweetly reaching over to close his mouth. Troy just stared at her.

"Let's walk?" he suggested leaving a few dollars for the bill. He stood up and offered his hand and Sharpay took it smiling inwardly. They left the café and strolled along the coast.

The sun was setting and it created a beautiful view along the horizon. But as beautiful as it was, Troy and Sharpay remained oblivious to it, their focus on something else. They remained in comfortable silence as they listened to the crash of the waves – each lost in their own thoughts…

Suddenly, as if it was a part of their stroll – or maybe for dramatic effect, they stopped and looked at each other…

Staring deep into each other's eyes, the felt drawn to each other and it was just natural that they kiss – but it wasn't! They hardly knew each other and if it were not for their daughters throwing their fists at each other they wouldn't even have met in the first place! But what felt so wrong, or rather awkward, for them was carelessly put aside as they leaned in and let their lips meet halfway. The world stopped and silence overwhelmed the area. They parted.

"That was just…" Sharpay began running a hand through her windswept blond locks looking out into the horizon trying to figure out just what happened. But she couldn't deny the feeling when he kissed her. It was like being electrocuted in the most pleasant manner and the way it felt so right was unnerving her since it wasn't often that you fall for your daughter's rival's parent.

"…incredible." Troy finished for her. It wasn't a joke this time, or the feeling that she's the one but about a month into your relationship and you want to call it quits. It was the real deal this time and he wanted to work on that – to be with her, marry her if she'd allow it!

"Well, I was going to say something between weird and awkward but I guess something positive is much better to hear." Sharpay said cocking her head to the side and giving him a shy smile. Troy just chuckled and offered her his arm which she gratefully took. The two continued their stroll down the coast.

"Have you ever thought about how wonderful it is, to have met a person your daughter just punched and end up reenacting a romantic scene on the beach where you just stop and kiss with the setting sun behind you and the wind breezing through your hair and there's nobody around to gawk?" Sharpay asked looking fondly at Troy.

"Well, not really." Troy answered and glanced at Sharpay in time to see a pout forming and she seemed to stiffen a bit, "Not when I'm thinking about how wonderful it would be if we could this tomorrow… or the next day… or the next day…" he intoned and his swore he felt his heart flutter when she blushed and looked away.

"You don't really mean that." Sharpay said putting on a defensive tone while her heart screamed otherwise. She felt her companion stop and she refused to look at him knowing a confrontation was at hand. She wasn't ready to love yet…

"I really do Sharpay. In the seven hours we've been together I have never been as happy as I am now in my entire life. You made me see beyond the drudgery of my life – you showed me the door to my happiness." Troy said and Sharpay looked at him and felt the sincerity in his eyes.

"Is it possible to fall in love in just seven hours?" she asked him hoarsely already starting to melt at the way his blue eyes seemed to spark something within her making her feel a renewed vigor to love and be loved in return.

"I don't know but I think it is. But of course that's just the first part. Let's see if we can make it past that, yeah?" Troy asked teasingly and Sharpay nodded and they leaned in to kiss again. When they parted, Sharpay looked around and realized that all their walking led them both to her house.

"You walked us, or rather me, home," she said and Troy glanced at her house. A few lights were on and it seemed that someone inside was busy. He could hear the sizzle of something frying.

"Well, what do you know," he muttered and started for the backdoor when Sharpay grabbed his hand and pulled him back. Troy gave her a confused look wondering why she wouldn't let him.

"My daughter is making dinner and as much as I would love to make a wisecrack about her cooking, I couldn't – she's way better than I am." Sharpay said but Troy didn't buy it, "Okay, okay – I don't want her to know about you yet. Maybe when I know you better… since you know… she might freak out at your daughter." Troy nodded and kissed Sharpay's hand before waving and starting back to the other end of the beach. Sharpay watched him walk away until he was just a tiny dot in the distance.

"So, who was that?" a voice asked making Sharpay jump in surprise. She turned her head in the direction of the voice and found herself face to face with Ashley.

"Nobody dear," she answered knowing it was probably the lamest thing she could ever come up with. Her daughter gave her a hard look before snorting in a very un-ladylike manner.

"Yeah, like I believe that – did I mention that Johnny Depp asked me out on a date tomorrow night? C'mon Mom that nobody looked more like somebody – otherwise translated to: some sort of date I don't want my daughter to know about." Ashley teased rolling her eyes while her mother actually blushed.

"Okay, two can play at that game. Did I mention that you're grounded for having a fist fight with another student?" she said sternly watching Ashley's lips form a perfect 'O' of surprise before smirking, "Oh yes – otherwise translated to: do not mess with me I am your mother." Sharpay said wagging a finger playfully at her daughter before walking back to the beach house.

"You were so on a date." Ashley muttered to herself before following her mother back to the beach house. She finished her cooking and ate dinner with her mother before going straight to her room. But halfway up the stairs, Sharpay called out to her daughter, "Ashley, when I said you're grounded I meant it. Now c'mon, clean your plate."

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Troy reached his Bentley after walking nonstop. He didn't feel tired though, instead he felt the urge to jump around and sing at the top of his lungs. But, not wanting to be caught, he opted to get in his car and turn on the stereo at full blast. He felt like flying all the way home and when parked in his driveway, he was surprised he didn't crash the car with all the singing and dancing he did.

Getting out of the car, he heard the banter of his daughter and son as they attempted to make dinner in the kitchen. He just chuckled and opened the front door with his keys taking off his coat and quietly making his way towards the kitchen. Valerie was making lasagna and she was currently telling her brother off for spilling some water on the floor.

"But it was an accident! Besides it's not like I'll just leave it there!" Matthew yelled angrily mopping the floor while Valerie rolled her eyes and continued watching over the baking lasagna.

"Yeah you would. If I hadn't been here to actually see you do it you'd leave it for me to mop." Valerie retorted and Troy leaned on the doorframe watching his children bicker like…children.

"At least I don't hit other people," her brother said sarcastically and glanced at his father. Valerie's upper lip curled and Troy stepped in before someone ended up with unwanted injuries.

"Okay break it up lovebirds. Val, keep an eye on your lasagna and Mat make sure you keep the floor dry, okay buddy?" he said as his children obeyed him. Troy made a beeline for his daughter and stroked her chin making her look at him.

"Daddy I'm sorry – I didn't mean to hit her, I just snapped. She dropped her script on my foot and when I accidentally shoved her she punched me and then I got mad and punched her back and…" Valerie started rattling on and on but was cut off by her father who just stroked her cheek again.

"Hey, I understand. I know you wouldn't hit anyone on purpose except for your brother or me," he joked and she smiled hugging him gratefully. Troy just hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.

"Yuck, family moment - I'm outta here." Matthew said heading for the door when Troy and Valerie broke away but didn't let go of their arms. Slowly they made their way towards Matthew who looked panicked.

"C'mon Mat… family time." Troy yelled in a crazy manner and then started running towards his son. It would have looked strange for an outsider if they were to see a boy running around the house being chased by his father and sister who were still both in a hug but for the Bolton family – it was just another night of fun.

"Daddy, we haven't done that in like… so many years." Valerie said softly panting from all the chasing and all the while trying not to let go of her father. They were now on the couch – all three of them – with a captured Matthew in between.

"Yeah… and what's up with that grin Dad?" Matthew asked and Troy looked at his children who were glancing at him suspiciously.

"Never you mind, you'll both find out soon enough," he grinned wider, I hope.


Is it too fast? Do you want me to go faster?

RL is taking over and my time to write isn't that luxurious anymore. So please tell me you're all still interested in this so at least I'd have inspiration...