Temptation. it's an ugly thing, but sometimes difficult to overcome, difficult, but not impossible.
Gabriella never left her side, even when Troy came in and-after shoving his way past other volunteers who basically were at the hospital to get some free drugs-saw her in the room. Her back was hunched and her frame was shaking, it broke his heart to see her like this. He curled his hand around his cross and brought the metal to his lips; lifting his eyes skyward. "Please..." he muttered, "Please..." Gabriella sniffled, standing up to stretch her muscles, but only to cross her arms around herself and hug tightly. Troy wrapped his arms around her, "she'll be all right." Gabriella held onto him tight, "N-No...no she wont... The doctor said he can do major surgery.." she looked downTroy smiled softly and put a strain of hair behind her ear, That's good isn't it?" he said, Gabriella shook her head, "for $200...I can't afford $200...I don't have any money..." she shook with sobs, why was everything so messed up?
Troy rubbed her back in soothing circles, but his movements were stiff. He never had to deal with stuff like this, his life used to be fairly simple. But that's before he started volunteering, and when his life was all about...drugs and getting high.
He just, he didn't know what to do in this situation besides worry. The itch for...temptation was there, he fought to ignore it. But he...he wasn't sure if he could hold off much longer. "Brie...I'll be right back K?"
Gabriella nodded, and sighed, "ok, I'm not going anywhere." she sighed holding sophie's hand. Troy kissed her forhead and walked out. he went out of the hopsital doors and began walking. he needed to figure something out. he needed to help sophie. he began walking around then he heard Jimmy talking. he turned to find him saling more drugs. of course. Troy glared stuffing his hands in his pockets walking over to him, Jimmy smiled, "Oh Troy..my best customer... your here for more drugs?" he asked, "the price has went up though. but I can give you a discount since your a special customer." he smirked then muttered under his breath, "and fucking my baby sister.." he muttered under his breath more like a mumble.
Troy though he heard wrong, but he didn't let it go. He'd decipher it later, but...oh he just...he sighed he needed an escape. Yes, that's what he kept telling himself. He sighed again, closing his eyes and looking up at the hospital, knowing that Gabriella was in there right now with her baby girl, a baby girl that was the daughter of the sick bastard that was standing right in front of him. He opened his eyes, and suddenly felt his veins burn. "Naw man, but uh you can do something else for me..." his voice was certain and stern. Jimmy cocked an eyebrow, and chuckled like the crack head he was. "Yeah and that is..." Troy grimaced at the sound and acted to punch him, but the drugs the kid was on made his movements quick however jerky and unstable. "I'll actually do you a favour," Jimmy said, tossing Troy to the ground and landing on top of him. "I'll give you the drugs for free if you let me have a go at my sis..."
That one got to Troy, and Troy sent a punch to his face sending him against the wall, and Troy held him against it, "You sick bastard! you stay away from her! she's going through enough already! your daughter is in there dying!...dying! and all you can do is sit out here and sale drugs.. you don't deserve to be that baby's father! you don't!" Troy yelled at him, and Jimmy smirked drunkly, "oh yeah Bolton, whose a good father for her? you? your no better then I am... come on... " he grabbed some drugs out of his pocket and held it infront of Troy, "come on, you know you wanna.." he smirked.
Troy looked at the bundle of coke that he held out for him, it was like the Jimmy was the serpent handing him an apple from the tree of knowledge, the forbidden fruit that God had told Adam and Eve not to eat or they will die, drugs were that forbidden fruit because later on they can cause death. He clenched his fists and swallowed, the temptation forming a lump in his throat. But no matter how hard he swallowed, the fire still burned and there was still that itch to get high, to escape from the reality that seemed for twisted than what the drugs did to him. Jimmy smiled, "Come on..." his voice was taunting, Troy serpent got to him, he reached and grabbed the drugs, Jimmy laughed. Patting his cheek as he left, "you're a good guy Troy...I can wait for my turn, just don't take too long with her." He must pay the consequences...
It was like he wasn't aware of what he was doing because the next thing he knew he felt the familiar feeling of being lifted high into the sky and the bag of coke half empty. His nose burned from snuffing it, but the reality was gone for the moment.
...
Gabriella held her daughter's hand, worrying about how she's gonna help her. she was also worried about Troy... his been gone for along time. then the door opened, and she looked up. Troy was walking funny, and was acting weird, "Troy...are you ok?" she asked walking over to him. "I'm fine..baby.." he slurred with a chuckle. Gabriella looked at him and gasped, he was high, "Troy...did you...you... " she couldn't believe it, he took more drugs behind her back, she bursted into tears, "how could you? especially with Sophie in this condition..." she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Troy smiled like a sly serpent, swaying from side to side, looking at Gabriella with blank eyes. He chuckled meaninglessly, "I just...uh wanted to ...you're pretty." he giggled, well it was a chuckle but with Troy like this it was hard to tell the difference. Gabriella crossed her arms in front of her chest, and placed herself between him and Sophie, she hated doing it, but she wouldn't put her baby girl in danger. Especially -and regrettably- if it was Troy. "Troy please...just go lay down in the waiting room...please..." she said, Troy scowled, his eyes still blank, and his lips thin and cracked. "C'mon baby...I want to see her...she's...er, my head..." her hands clenched at her sides, she pushed them against her ribs to prevent them from shaking. Suddenly, something appeared in her head, something she remembered reading when she would runaway from her parents house when she was 10 years old, she'd go to the church and the preist who lived there took her in for the night read her this verse when she told him of her stepbrother forcing drugs on her. The preist had smiled and said, "The the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'if you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: he will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" She had questioned what it meant, but the words were forever etched into her brain and memory.
Gabriella looked at her daughter, sighing, then looked up at Troy, "come on..I'm gonna take you outside.." she pushed him forward to the waiting room, and they were the only one's in there. "Troy...h-how could you?" she cried, Troy stared at her blankly and put his arm around her, "hey..let's get out of here and go have some fun..." he raised his eyebrown in a flirty way and tried to kiss her and she stepped away, and she cried, "That's it...Troy..I don't want to see you anymore...stay away from me and sophie...I'm leaving as soon as I find a way to help sophie...were over.." she threw the necklace at him that he had given her and she went back into Sophie's room. He frowned, the necklace he'd given her lay on the floor forgotten for the moment, and Gabriella was two paces ahead of him as he reached out and grabbed her wrist. Spinning her to him, she looked at him and tried to pry her arm away, "I said, let's go have some fun..." Slap! Gabriella's hand stung and his numb brain barely registered his stinging cheek, but it got him to let go and she bolted to Sophies room, shutting the door and locking it. She went to Sophie's bedside and grabbed her tiny hand. "Don't worry sweet one, he won't hurt us...no one will hurt us...we'll go back to the shelter, Aunt Sharpay will help us find a place some where its safe for both of us."
Little Sophie layed in her small hopsital crib, having small breaths, Gabriella kissed her hand and prayed to god for her to be alright. There was knock on the door, and she looked at it, afraid It was Troy. she sighed and called out "Who is it?" she asked, "It's the doctor." The doctor's voice called out and she sighed of relief and opened it, and he smiled, "good news Gabriella... we had looked at some X-ray's of Sophie and she's really good to go, and she's doing much better.." Gabriella smiled, "so she don't have to go through surgery?" The doctor shook his head, "nothing serious, your free to go back to the shelter." and with that the doctor left. Gabriella smiled and lifted Sophie out of her crib, "let's go soph.." and held her close covering her up with a blanket and called sharpay. "hello?" sharpay answered, "Hey, shar its me gabi, can you come get me...I'm at the hospital." she whispered, looking around to make sure Troy wasen't around. "umm sure, but what about Troy?" Gabriella sighed, "it's hard to explain, but can you just come get us?" "ok, I'll go by walmart real quick to buy an extra car-seat for sophie." Gabriella smiled, "thanks shar, your the best." and she hung up, and went to take a seat holding sophie. Gabriella hugged Sophie to her chest tightly, murmuring lullabies and rocking from one foot to the other. she wanted to look at her watch, but she didn't want to distract herself from being aware of her surroundings, just in case Troy popped up somewhere. She was worried about him...she thought, she thought that he was over his ...drug issues.
gravel crunched behind her, she jumped, holding Sophie to her chest. "It's okay...it's okay Shar will be here soon." A husky voice wound around her head, "you're sexy when you talk to your baby...hmmm pretty baby." She gulped, and took a step back, "Troy...just stay back." He came closer to her. he was high for sure. he was not being himself, "what if i don't wanna stay back.." he came closer as she backed up, "Troy, I mean it.. this isn't you.." he was coming closer to her, she was backed up against the wall holding sophie close to her. he started running his fingers down her arm. "come on.. let me feel you baby.." he whispered in her ear, her eyes widen. "Troy..p-please stay away..." "Naw, I don' wan' to..." his voice was slurred, did he take more? Gabriella wished Sharpay would hurry up as she silently vowed to her baby girl that everything will be fine and the bad man will go away. "Troy...pl-please just go away!" she said, her voice raising, Troy ran his hand up her arm and down her chest to rest on her breast, just above her covered nipple. She whimpered.
"Troy...please this isn't you... look at me... look straight into my eyes... please... this is not you.." she whispered bring his face to look into her eyes. Troy looked into her eyes and blinked them shut, and then backed off of her. she was breathing heavy, and she held sophie close to her. Troy was breathing heavy, looking down at the ground, then there was a honk. Gabriella turned to see sharpay, "come on gabs.. were gonna go eat at Cheddars." she smiled, and gabriella sighed of relief, "I'm coming." Gabriella looked at Troy, he looked at her, and breathed, "Brie..I.." "save it.. stay away from me and sophie.." she walked over to the car, strapping Sophie in the car seat.
Sophie was buckled in the car seat that was next to Sharpay's baby, Sharpay was strapped in the front with her hands tight on the wheel. Gabriella felt Troy's eyes on her as they disappeared around the corner to the restaurant. She felt a tear run down her cheek as she stared out the window, she thought everything was finally perfect, finally turning around for her...but, she just didn't have that kind of sighed, and Sharpay looked at her, "Okay...spill," Gabriella turned, "what?" her voice cracked, "what happened...you and Troy, you two were lovey dovey back at the shelter earlier," Gabriella shrugged, and turned her head back to the window. She didn't want to talk about this now, "Please Shar, not now.." but the blond pressed on. "Spill Gabs-" "NO!" she yelled, waking the two infants in the back seat. "fine, but you will have to spill eventually..." she said pulling into the restaurant. Gabriella sighed, "Let's just eat, ok..I'm starving.." Sharpay nodded, and they went to go eat. after eating Gabriella, Sharpay, Sophie, and Noah came back out and Sharpay smiled, "hey, let's go shopping?" Sharpay suggested. Gabriella smiled softly, "well I haven't been in awhile...alright.." she smiled, she needed something to keep her mind off of Troy.
They went to the department store, Sharpay guided Gabriella who carried Sophie in the carry on car seat like Sharpay did with Noah, to the little missy's section. Pink frills covered the walls and ...Gabriella couldn't help but laugh. While they were looking at the clothes, Sharpay looked up at the store across the way and they widened in shock and slight fear. Gabriella noticed this, Sharpay ducked down, "Shar what are you doing?" she was shushed and yanked down, "Gabs, Ryan is here...I don't want...well I have seen him since he you know, I don't know what to do now! What do I do?" Gabriella sighed, "Well he was drunk that night and well, he is the father, he does have rights to Noah...just talk to him."
Sharpay looked at her as if she had grown a third eye, but in the end she sighed and stood up. "You better be right about this." she said, Gabriella smiled and picked up Sophie, watching her best friend carry Noah to her...well, her twin brother who was older by 35 minutes. Sharpay cleared her throat, "Hey...Ryan." he turned, "oh, Hey Shar.." he saw Noah, "omg... shar...is that-" Sharpay nodded, "yes...it's your daughter...Noah.." Ryan smiled down at the little girl, "can I hold her?" he asked, Sharpay nodded, and gave her to him. Ryan was a natural. "she's beautiful." Gabriella came over with sophie, Ryan smiled, "Hey Gabi.. is this yours?" he said reffering to sophie. Gabriella nodded, "yes.. this is sophie." she smiled, Ryan smiled, "looks just like her mother." Gabriella smiled, "Thank you.' Ryan smiled at sharpay, "I'll see ya around shar?" he said giving her noah back. Sharpay nodded, "yeah.." Ryan hugged her and he walked off.
Sharpay looked at Gabriella, "see it wasen't that bad." Gabriella smiled, "I guess...but still spill about Troy.." she said putting Noah back in the buggy. Gabriella sighed as they walked, "I thought I could trust him shar...I mean, I thought he was the one...the love of my life...and he still is...but... he has some drug issues, and I don't wanna deal with that anymore more shar.." Gabriella said with tears rolling down her cheeks. Sharpay hugged her, "Gabs It's ok..all man are dogs...well not all...how about I hook you up with someone.." Gabriella's eyes widen, "no shar..no more blind hook-ups.." she said. Sharpay sighed, and rolled her eyes, holding Noah when she had begun to get fussy. Her father holding was...different, and she liked it. An infant still, and she knew what she liked. "It's okay pretty girl, what do you want?" her voice was soft and sleepy, but she was fussy, her beautiful green eyes (that matched her fathers) went to the direction that Ryan had gone, Sharpay sighed, "I think Noah developed an attachment to her father." Gabriella giggled, "that's good isn't it?" Sharpay shrugged, "i don't know if it is or not...but ah, well I better find Ryan-hey if I'm allowed back home why don't you come stay with me and Noah? it's a big house and we have a lot things available to the both of you."
Gabriella's eyes lit up, "really? you mean you guys won't mind?" she said. Sharpay shook her head with a smile, "of course not...your like my sister... and ryan loves you too... and I'm sure it'll be ok...and plus Troy won't be able to find you there.." Gabriella nodded, "yeah your right, he'll find me at the shelter.." Sharpay froze, "or here.." Gabriella looked at her confused, "W-what?" she stammered, Sharpay pointed behind her, Gabriella turned around, she saw troy asking people if they saw me or knew where I was, and giving them descriptions. "oh my god, shar, his here! what are we gonna do!" she said in a frantic voice.
Sharpay looked around, "uh...oh what about in Santa's sleigh?" Gabriella looked at it, and then at her friend, "are you serious? I'm not getting in there!" Sharpay looked at her, "well you go no choice, he's coming this way," Gabriella groaned, and felt like kicking Sharpay in the shin. "Fine!" she grabbed Sophie and crawled in, hiding behind the big stuffed Santa doll, she looked at it and rolled her eyes, "you better hide me tubby..." she whispered harshly, she peeked out and saw Troy come up to Sharpay. "Uhm hey...look I really need to talk to Gabriella," Troy said, his tone pleading. Sharpay looked at him with narrowed eyes, "yeah well I haven't seen her..." praise God that her bestfriend was a good liar.
Troy sighed and groaned, "do you know where I can find her? please...I really need to talk to her, and to apologize..." he said pleading, Sharpay rolled her eyes, "I can't tell you where she is, and plus I don't think she wants you back Troy.." she said crossing her arms over chest. Troy sighed, "I've screwed things up with her...but I love her like crazy, and I just need to know if she's ok.." Sharpay nodded, "She's fine.. she's better off... " Troy sighed again, and was about to walk off when he heard what sounded like a baby fussing. He paused, "is that...a baby?" Sharpay froze, and hugged the fussy Noah to her. Thankful that she was still fussy, "yes...her name is Noah, and she's fussy." Troy looked at her, "yes, but I meant-" another fuss, this time it was followed by a 'shush', and it came from Santa's sleigh. He walked by it and moved the stuffed Santa. "Brie?" Gabriella looked at him, then at stuffed Santa, "thanks a lot tubby, for nothing."
"I really need to talk to-" Gabriella interrupted him, while rocking Sophie but she was fussing more than Noah. "yeah well I need to go,me and Shar have to get going." Troy sighed, and grabbed her shoulder, "please...just for a minute." Gabriella looked at his pleading practically forcing herself not to get lost in them, she swallowed hard and shook her head, "No, I'm sorry but me and Shar have to go...goodbye Troy." Troy sighed, "Gabs..please..." she looked at him, then at shar, "Shar, can you take soph?" Sharpay took Sophie in her arms and looked at Gabriella, "You going to be ok? or do you need me to stick around close incase something happens?" sharpay asked. Gabriella shook her head, "I'm fine.. umm I'll meet you at the food court." sharpay nodded and walked off. Gabriella turned to Troy, "Look Troy, if your here for forgiveness, I really am not in the mood to hear it... you went behind my back, took more drugs, got high, try to rape me..and I lost all my trust in you, and I don't want you back... I'm sorry.. it's for the best..." she sighed hoping that he would leave her alone.
"Brie," he pulled her wrist gently around to face him, " I am really really really sorry...but...I can't live without you... you know I love you..." he said caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. she shook her head, "I love you Troy...but I told you about how I felt about the drugs...and you took advantage of that...and that's just too much for me.. you told me that you had stopped, and you lied..,I'm doing what's best for me and sophie...and what's best for you is that you move on without me and find someone who can handle this...cause I can't...I'm sorry.." she had tears rolling down her face. god this hurt her so bad. She pulled away from his touch, a cold breeze falling over her and clotting in her belly like a ball of ice. She turned around quickly, not wanting to see Troy's eyes that were torn and twisted with tears that would never fall until he was away from the public. He wanted to run after her, but when she reached the turn off to the food court is when she ran her fastest and hid behind the elevator, Sharpay Noah and Sophie in sight of her, but she herself not wanting to be seen. Tears rolled down her eyes and she slid down the wall, she felt like a child. A stupid child that had gotten caught for stabbing the cat with plastic barbie scissors. She felt...confused, her feelings were mixed up. She...she didn't know what she wanted.
Troy walked out of the mall and began crying...he loved her...he really did..she was the most important thing to him...her and sophie were... he never loved somebody like he loved her... his heart felt so empty and he hated it. he kept walking and he saw the four of them get in Sharpay's pink car, and he needed to follow them. he couldn't live without her, he was gonna prove to her that he was done with drugs...he was done.. and he was gonna show her that.
Happy Holidays!(: