Because You Were Mine
Chapter IV
To drive one crazy, or to drive one over the edge, that is the question
Sharpay just came home from her theater rehearsals when the phone suddenly rang. Its shrill and urgent ringing made her drop her bag and rush towards the device and she frantically picked it up hoping that it wasn't some kind of emergency call.
"Yes?!" she tried not to scream but there was no sound from the other end of the line.
"Hello?" she tried again in a much calmer tone thinking that whoever the caller was became too surprised at her abrupt manner of greeting. Again she was met with silence.
"Troy? This better not be some sick joke." Sharpay warned becoming irritated but she knew deep within her that her husband would never pull such childish prank. After a while, the caller hanged up and Sharpay slammed the phone down. She picked up her things, closed the door and went to her bathroom for a well-deserved bath.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Troy was talking with some editors about the team that they would be putting on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated. They all couldn't agree on one team and tension was starting some heated verbal sparring when Andrea interrupted them saying that Gabriella was on the line.
"Hello?" he picked up his phone while rubbing his temples. Added stress was not welcome.
"Hey Troy, I was wondering if you want to go out tonight? Catch up…?" he heard her hopeful voice on the other end and felt like screaming.
"Gabriella, I'm in the middle of a meeting right now and will be for the next few days. Maybe next time," he told her and he heard her sigh.
"But Troy…" she whined and this made him really pissed.
"I have to go," he cut in and put the phone down.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Gabriella knew that Troy loved Starbucks and she felt triumphant upon seeing a branch a few blocks from his office building. She felt that if she stayed there, sooner or later their paths will cross and Troy would eventually talk to her.
After a few hours of waiting she was finally rewarded with Troy's haggard appearance asking for Café Au Lait and the barista serving him the anticipated order. She quickly stood up and followed him through the door. Troy noticed her presence and tried not to frown.
"Isn't it a shock that we find ourselves in the same Starbucks? I thought that…" she was once again cut off by a stern look from Troy.
"Nice meeting you Gabriella," he called out before hastily entering his car and driving away. The Latina huffed in anger before going back to Starbucks and ordering coffee, black, to calm her nerves.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Zach and Ryan, who was babysitting him, were both playing Twister when the phone rang. Zach got up immediately and knocked over his uncle as he rushed towards it and be the first to answer. His uncle called out to him and he giggled at the sprawled body on the floor.
"Hullooo?" he answered in a sing-song voice thinking it was either his mother or father.
"Well hello there, and who might you be?" a voice on the other line asked sweetly.
"I'm Zachary Alexander Bolton," the boy answered truthfully, enamored by the sweet voice and forgetting about his parents' warning about not talking to strangers.
"Oh, you are?" the voice suddenly snarled and Zach put down the phone in fright. Ryan, who was standing behind him, caught his nephew who nearly stumbled in his haste to escape the horrid person on the other line.
"Hey… hey buddy… who called?" he asked the sniffling boy. Zach just wiped his eyes and shook his head. Ryan was instantly worried so he hugged his nephew close and carried him into the kitchen. He took a juicebox from the fridge, stuck its straw in and handed it to his nephew. Zach to a few sips and seemed to calm down after a while. This relieved his uncle immensely.
"Okay buddy, who called?" he asked softly and Zach looked up at him from his juicebox.
"Well first she was a lady who sounded like Teacher Karen. Then nextly it was a monster," he explained truthfully. Ryan wondered what kind of pervert would impersonate his nephew's pre-school teacher and then scare the hell out of the boy after.
"What did she tell you?" he continued to ask and Zach told him that she wanted to know his name.
"Didn't we always tell you not to talk to strangers?" Ryan chastisised gently and his nephew sniffled and nodded guiltily, "Okay buddy, here's what we're gonna do. You're off the hook for now but next time, only the adults answer the phone, okay?" he continued sternly and Zach could only nod.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Sharpay was gathering the day's laundry when the phone rang yet again. Remembering her past outburst, she approached the phone with caution and answered it without nearly shouting. Again, whoever was on the other line refused to speak and she put it down irked to the core.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Troy looked up irritably as his secretary buzzed him for the umpteenth time that day. Andrea sounded doubly irritated as she tried to respectfully convey the message that Gabriella had called once again and was waiting for him at line 6. He told her that he has four calls, one ongoing, and that she would have to wait. The blinking at line 6 suddenly vanished and both boss and secretary were temporarily relieved. Until Andrea's phone rang again and the voice of Gabriella Montez floated through the receiver at Troy's third ongoing call.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Sharpay was playing hide and seek with Zach when the phone abruptly rang. She rushed over and Zach jumped in front of her yelling, "Gotcha!" and giggled as he hugged her legs. Sharpay smiled and ran a hand through his hair before picking him up and kissing his cheeks.
"Hello?" she answered the phone and Zach wrapped his arms around her neck and played with her hair. No answer. She put down the phone and noted that her son fell asleep and she smiled carrying him to his room and tucking him in for a nice long nap.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Ryan was talking to his sister about the advertisement they'd put up since the Boltons would be selling their apartment before moving into a new home in Bedford. Zach cried out in the other room and Sharpay rushed to attend of him; he suffered a bout of flu a few days ago and hasn't been feeling well. As he waited for his sister, the phone rang.
"Ry, can you get that?" he heard Sharpay ask from the other room. He nodded his yes to no one in particular and answered the phone. No one was on the other line and he shrugged before putting it down.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Troy was doing some last minute grocery for Sharpay when he accidentally bumped another customer's cart. Looking up from his cabbage picking, he was having a hard time since both vegetables looked literally the same, he saw to his dismay, Gabriella.
"Hey Troy…" the Latina began with a smile.
"Uh, hi, Gabby," he answered awkwardly trying to find a way out of talking to her. Unfortunately, he was stuck with her for the next half an hour or so and he nearly kissed his car when he was finally able to drive away from the grocery.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Bea Enriquez lived across the hall from the Boltons. She was called in once in a while to babysit Zach which she was more than happy to do. The little boy was such a sweetie pie that she secretly wanted to babysit him everyday if she could. The news that the Boltons would be moving saddened her but they assured her that she could get to visit Zach if she wanted to, in Bedford.
"We're all in this together! Once we know that we are, we're all stars and we see that…" Zach sang at the top of his voice, which was surprisingly pleasant for a four year old belting out a tune, along with the whole cast of the new Disney hit musical movie, What We Keep Hidden. When it was Brandon's time to sing, Zach squealed in delight and jumped from the couch trying to copy the toddler on-screen's moves.
The phone rang and Bea scrambled to mute the TV and at the same time reach for the receiver. She ended up with her arms tangled in the telephone wires with Zach sympathetically holding the receiver to her ear.
"Hello?"
No one was on the other line and she scowled. It couldn't have been Troy or Sharpay since they would just call her cell phone and not their house phone. She told Zach to put down the phone and help her out and they continued to watch the movie.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Andrea wanted to strangle Ms. Gabriella Montez. It was Monday morning and she wasn't in the mood for calls that her boss doesn't even want to take. To top it off, this happened about five times a day, during working hours plus voice messages during overtime.
"Mr. Bolton, Ms. Montez on line 3," she exasperatedly said and she heard him scoff involuntarily.
"I feel your pain boss," she sympathized and heard him grunt.
"Andy," she smiled at her nickname and his soothing tone, "We're going to get a new number today. Please notify the telephone company."
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Chad and Taylor brought Corbin, their son and Zach's bestfriend, into the Boltons apartment for the much anticipated play date. While Zach, Corbin, Chad and Troy were playing soldiers in the living room, Taylor went out to buy groceries with Sharpay.
"Major Corbin, have you seen any signs of the enemy?" Chad whispered into his walkie-talkie.
"No I haven't Colonel Chad sir, Uncle – I mean, Colonel Bolton has his perimeters covered well." Corbin giggled in reply. The two continued crawling their way behind the couch when a figured stood up and held them at gunpoint.
"Gotcha!" came like father like son's voice from their kneeling position on the couch and then the firing sounds started. (imagine "Bang-bang-bang!" and "Oooh! He caught me! Run Corbin, run! Run before yo mama gets back and tells you to go wash yourself! Goo!") Zach chased after Corbin while Troy tackled Chad so "he won't be able to hit my son!" Everyone was having so much fun that nobody heard the telephone ringing.
Taylor came in with Sharpay in tow carrying grocery bags. Troy got up immediately to help his wife along with Zach. Chad was about to do the same when Corbin called out to him and said that the phone was ringing.
"Dude, can you answer that?" Troy called from the kitchen so Chad did as he was told.
"Bolton residences, who is it?" he asked in a professional tone making Corbin and Zach, who joined them, giggle.
"Hello?" Chad said into the phone again dropping the professional manner. His brows furrowed since no one was on the other line.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Sharpay was waiting for Troy to come home. This was the last straw! For three weeks now, a mysterious caller kept ringing their house and she was getting both angry and worried. Ryan complained about it, Bea complained about it, Zach complained about it, Chad and Taylor who babysit once in a while complain about it, and the maid they hired to clean the apartment was complaining about it.
"Sharpay? Baby, it's late." Troy told her as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He just got back from a meeting that ran late and found his wife staring blankly out the window.
"You know, there's some pervert calling our home at odd times for the past weeks," she told him. Troy didn't need to know more and he tried not to lose his temper.
"We're getting a new number," he said shortly. Sharpay heard an edge to his voice but she was too grateful to think more of it.
"Thank you baby," she whispered and kissed his cheek before going to bed.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
"Operator, may I help you?" a male voice asked on the other line.
"Operator, I've been trying to get 555-8129. 212? The recording says it's been disconnected." Gabriella complained.
"Just a moment please." Silly call-waiting tunes started to play and Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, the number's been changed to an unlisted number," the operator explained.
"Operator, this is a real emergency please. You need to give me that number." Gabriella tried.
"I'm sorry. We're not allowed to give out that information," the operator replied smugly.
"Well, fuck you!" the Latina screamed into the receiver.
"My place or yours?" came the smug reply.
Click.
Gabriella was distraught. Both lines, office and house phones, both have become unlisted numbers. Why couldn't they just let her talk with Troy? More importantly, why doesn't Troy want to talk to her?
She stared absently at her mug of coffee and tried her best to do her normal morning routine without resorting to picking up the phone and try dialing the numbers again. Suddenly an ad caught her eye and she smiled while reading the details.
+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++:+++
Sharpay was having her lunch break in her own home after presenting it to five prospective buyers. She had been acting real estate agent since eight in the morning and lunch at two in the afternoon was totally heaven.
She was munching on a turkey sandwich when an unexpected visitor arrived. Sharpay hurriedly finished her meal and opened the door to find Gabriella Montez smiling creepily at her. The Latina didn't look like she changed one bit except that there was a strange aura about her. Sharpay noticed that she cut her hair short, reminiscent of her working days at Lava Springs.
"Wow, Troy tells me you're Rodney's publicist. Do you have a meeting with him or something?" she asked trying to be polite.
"Oh no Sharpay," fake high-pitched giggle, "I'm here for the apartment." Sharpay raised a perfectly arched eyebrow; ex-girlfriend of current husband who annoys the hell out of her say what?!
"What?" Sharpay blurted trying to shake the line out of her head.
"I want to see the apartment – your ad?" Gabriella clarified giggling a bit, much like she did in highschool. Sharpay numbly nodded and stepped aside to let her in.
"I thought you have your own apartment." Sharpay asked following the Latina as she walked around the living room.
"Oh I do, it's just that it was too far away from my office. I want to settle in somewhere closer." Gabriella explained shrugging her shoulders as she now looked at the family portraits, intrigued. Sharpay became skeptical at her statement since Gabriella's office, as Troy mentioned, was somewhere closer to the Latina's current apartment.
"And who is this?!" Sharpay was brought back to earth by Gabriella's sudden gushing. She was pointing to a picture of Zach in Troy's arms. Gabriella was studying the little boy's picture with intense interest. He had a mix of Sharpay and Troy's hair, Troy's gorgeous blue eyes and that Evans trademark smirk.
"Our son, Zachary." Sharpay answered warily, the mother in her feeling the need to protect her child. Gabriella nodded and with one last look at the picture, set it down where she found it.
"He looks like Troy," the Latina noted with a sort of grimace and Sharpay's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Yeah, he does," she answered in a monotone and Gabriella smirked.
"Well, I don't think Troy would like you entering him into theater. The boy's look like he has some game on the b-ball court," she remarked.
"Troy and I were planning to let him choose what he wishes." Sharpay snapped angrily. The tension settled between the two women and it was about to escalate into a full blown catfight when something attached itself to Sharpay's legs.
"Mama!" Sharpay looked down and saw his son smiling up at her and she smiled back picking him up. Zach gave Sharpay a huge smack on the cheek and hugged her tightly. She felt another kiss on her cheek and looked up to see Troy grinning at her.
"Hey Troy." Sharpay watched her husband stiffen as he turned around and faced Gabriella.
"Hi, I didn't know you're here… why are you here?" he looked at his wife and the Latina confused. Zach turned around to watch the commotion and saw the brown-skinned woman for the first time.
"Mama, who's that?" he asked curiously.
"That's Gabriella honey, she's Dad's old friend." Sharpay explained emphasizing the last two words. Gabriella smiled at the little boy though inside she wanted nothing more than to vent out at him.
"Hey sweetie, you may call me Aunt Gabi," she cooed and watched the little boy give her a slight wave and turn back to his mother's arms.
Troy, who was watching from the sidelines, didn't like what was happening one bit. He whispered something in Sharpay's ear and asked Gabriella if he could accompany her to the her car since it was getting late.
"What're you doing here?" he asked angrily when they reached her car at the parking lot. Troy insisted that he take her there so no one would hear them.
"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked innocently looking askance at Troy.
"I mean far away from you're only client. Rodney's in Vegas," he snapped and she raised an eyebrow.
"I don't see your point, Troy. Rodney is training." Gabriella answered nonchalantly with a shrug.
"Well he needs his publicist there promoting him." Troy argued and she scoffed.
"He can deal with the fans on his own Troy," she argued back.
"Okay, so what are you doing in my apartment picking a fight with my wife?"
"Well, what am I supposed to do? You won't answer my calls, you change your number. I mean, I'm not gonna be ignored, Troy!"
Hehehe, someone's starting to come lose.
Well, a shout out to GimmeABeat, I used her FF What We Keep Hidden. Writing that Zach was watching HSM and thinking of the Troyella pairing just upsets me.
So, as you've all noticed, probably now, that I update much faster with more reviews. So keep 'em coming! LOL
Love you guys - and all the Troypay fans out there! You guys rock! :)
