Chapter VI
The Truce
Troy drove to the motel his son told him they'll be staying at and arrived around 5 in the morning. He and Chad got out of the car and saw a car with a shattered windshield. Chad went around inspecting the car and Troy saw the person inside the car. Norman Conner was out cold and there was a cut on his forehead. Troy opened the door and saw the fire extinguisher that someone must've thrown at Norman. He shook the man awake and Norman stared dazedly at Troy. Then he was helped out of the car by the two men.
Shaking himself out of the pain, Norman surveyed his surrounding and rushed to the room Tom peeked into. He saw Marcus Doyle's dead body and went inside the room. There was no sign of a struggle and he presumed that the boy was able to escape again. He sighed with relief and faced the other two men outside. Troy was looking away from the body and the man beside him looked sick. Norman led them to Troy's car.
"Chad this is Norman, the detective I was telling you about." Troy said in a monotone. Chad shook the detective's hand.
"You're the one hired by Shar, right?" he asked and Norman nodded.
"Your son has managed to escape again. Amazing…" Norman told Troy.
"Thank God…" he said when his phone started ringing. He saw his son's number and answered.
"Jacob?"
"We're heading off to…"
As Jacob gave them the address, Troy put his phone on loudspeaker and Norman jotted down the place. Suddenly, the speaker on the other line changed.
"Mr. Bolton, I do not suggest that you go to us now since we might be on the move for quite a while… we would however, tell you wherever we are heading and then a final destination."
Click.
Norman stared at Troy, shock etched on his face. Troy was holding an important piece of information Norman needed to rescue Jacob.
"Mr. Bolton, I need that phone." Norman stated and held out his hand. Chad slapped it away.
"Forget it! Troy's trying to find his son too…" he said angrily.
"But you don't know what you're up against…" began Norman.
"I don't give a damn. He's my son as much as he's Sharpay's. I'm calling a truce. We are going to find him together." Troy said. Norman knew he wouldn't be able to say otherwise.
"Very well, but there would be no holding out of information." Troy nodded and they shook hands.
"Since we don't know where their 'final destination' is yet, let's just get you cleaned up." Chad offered curtly and the three got into Troy's car.
"Where to?" asked Troy and Norman told him Sharpay's penthouse.
~***~
The three of them arrived and paused in front of the door. Troy snorted and leaned back against the hallway as Norman pushed the doorbell. He knew Sharpay hated to be woken up early and she was cranky when she was.
Sure enough when the door opened she spilled all her anger on Norman who was the first person she saw. Troy's plan backfired when Sharpay suddenly sobered up and caressed his face and looked worriedly at the cut on his forehead. She ushered them inside and was going back and forth to tending the cut.
Troy frowned and Chad held his arm giving him a warning look. Chad understood that Troy was still madly in love with his ex-wife and that seeing her giving her attention to another man, which he loathed, was driving Troy insane. Chad had to tighten the grip on Troy's arm when Sharpay straddled Norman and kissed his wound, then his lips. Troy clenched his fist and watched in anger and jealousy as Sharpay and her new boyfriend started a little make out session. Chad cleared his throat and the two broke away.
"Jacob's alive." Troy snapped fighting the urge to lose his temper which he was very close to doing now. Sharpay was still straddling Norman.
"And Mr. Bolton and I are calling a truce…" added Norman wrapping his arms around Sharpay.
"What truce?" Sharpay asked.
"Jacob calls Troy to tell him where he goes and Norman will handle the rest." Chad explained.
"Oh, so does that mean you'll stay here too, Troy? I can prepare an extra bed." Sharpay offered.
"No Pay, I'd rather have you back at the mansion." Troy said in a monotone.
"What?" Sharpay snapped, "Why?" she asked skeptically, her eyebrows furrowing.
"My family is waiting for me over there and I don't think it's fair to leave them out of the action." Troy explained and Sharpay nodded, and then frowned.
"What about my family?" she asked him. Troy shrugged and offered her his phone.
"I have more rooms to accommodate them…" he said as if it would answer the look Sharpay was giving him. She took the phone and called her parents and her brother. She handed back the phone to Troy and told them she'll pack.
~***~
The four arrived at the Bolton mansion and was met by the others the moment they entered the foyer. Lucille immediately hugged Troy and Jack glared at Sharpay who was being hugged by her parents, then Ryan and Kelsi and then her hugging their newborn baby. Chad was met by his wife and son.
Dennis immediately demanded play time with Chad and Taylor and the two had to placate him for a while. Kelsi suddenly had to change her daughter's diaper. Troy led them all to the living room. He and Norman explained about the truce and Troy told them that they're welcome to stay.
After the announcement, Lucille dragged Jack from the room since he kept looking daggers at Sharpay. Sharpay took Norman to the kitchen to feed him and Ryan left the room with his mom. Vance Evans sighed and sat beside Troy.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you." Vance told Troy who nodded his head.
"I was angry, you know. My daughter was hurt because of what you did and I never wanted to see my princess hurt so bad…"
"I understand. I let things go too far…
"At least you're making up for the lost chances."
"It's not like it will bring her back to me." Troy blurted and suddenly looked terrified.
"I know you still love her, who wouldn't?" Vance chuckled then turned serious.
"Troy, I'll tell you what, if you plan to compete for a woman's heart, focus on the competition, not the woman." Vance whispered to Troy then got up and winked. Troy looked at Vance's retreating back. Was that a hint? He wondered then went off to his study.
Jacob didn't call except to give Troy his current destination. It seemed that Tom was very good with catching up and the two are just lucky to be able to escape every single time. Troy was sick with worry if his son didn't call on time and nearly went hysterical when his battery died. So much so that Norman had to step in and charge Troy's phone for him. The final call from Jacob arrived telling him where his next stop is but that wouldn't be the final one. The kidnapper talked to Troy and said that they had to charge the phone and he had to get some sleep. They would call in the morning.
After the call, Troy's butler stepped in the study and told him that dinner was ready. Troy headed to the dining room and found his guests digging in. As he sat down, Troy couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. It had been two years since anything like this happened in the dining room. The Boltons of two years ago usually had family dinners like this, but with Jacob around and the ambience wasn't filled with tension.
Night had taken over and everybody prepared for sleep in their respective rooms. Norman and Sharpay were going to sleep in one room which made Troy irritable the whole time. He couldn't sleep at all. Troy just sat up in his huge bed staring at the space that used to be occupied by his wife who was currently sleeping in another man's arms across the hall. He sighed and walked out to the balcony.
Opening the double doors Troy looked up at the stars that scattered in the sky. Ten years ago he courted and married the most beautiful woman he had ever met in his life. Sharpay was just an actress making her name on Broadway and Troy was making his name on the court and considering an offer to make his own basketball stadium. Then Jacob was born and the little boy had been such a blessing. Those were probably the most wonderful years in Troy's life; it would have been more had he not prioritized his office over his family.
Jack Bolton always told him that family comes first, no matter what. Troy remembered the day his life started to spin out of control. He had a very important meeting a few months after Jacob's 7th birthday and he was making sure everything was fine. On the beginning of the meeting, Sharpay called to tell him that Jacob was sick with fever and Troy needed to come home immediately. He came home way after midnight…
Troy hung his head in shame. If only he could turn back time, maybe he wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe his son was in God knows where with God knows who and his wife would still be sleeping in his arms. Troy sighed deeply and went back to his room. Grabbing his robe, he slipped out of his room and walked on the hallway barefoot.
He went down the grand staircase and went to the portrait room. Sharpay got this idea to make this room in their house a kind of memory room or something. She would choose particular photos every year and hang them consecutively on the walls. Troy looked around…
(Enter background music…)
I fell in a perfect way
Never had a choice to make
Crashed into your tidal wave
I didn't even struggle
Troy walked around the room staring at Sharpay's solo pictures. He chuckled as he remembered how he used to tease her with being so vain. One time Sharpay had enough and chucked one of her pictures at him! He rolled around the floor laughing as his wife stood in horror at what she had just done. Then he walked over to the smashed picture and replaced its frame. Sharpay beamed to see her repaired picture. Troy missed her smile…
Sailed right through your atmosphere
Closed my eyes and landed here
I didn't see the trouble
And I didn't care
He took her for granted, that much he regretted. Troy was intensely focused on securing his son's future he forgot about the present. Jacob was trying to hide his hurt everytime Troy and Sharpay started arguing over dinner whenever Troy was home. He caught glimpses of his son's face but then he continued his row with his wife. Tears were brimming in the corners of Troy's eyes…
I can't unlove you
Can't do that
No matter how I try
His heart shattered when he came upon a picture of him, Sharpay and Jacob gathered in front of the huge Christmas tree. Troy had his arms around Sharpay's waist and Jacob was nestled in between them. It was a beautiful picture and it was incredibly special to him. It was a candid shot, not something they posed for. Chad decided to snap a photo of them that day and when it was printed, Sharpay had it enlarged and hung it.
I'll never turn my back on
Someone who loved me too
I can do most anything I have to
Sharpay woke up from her sleep and sat up in bed. Somehow, it didn't feel right. She looked at her left and saw Norman. So she was sleeping in his arms? It didn't feel right to her, not anymore. She looked around the room and was confused at first. Then she remembered that she was staying over at Troy's mansion. Somehow she felt a sense of longing, a longing to be in the master's bedroom sleeping beside Troy and her son just across their door.
She got up and went to the master's bedroom knocking quietly but stopped herself. It was early in the morning, why wake up Troy? But she couldn't resist the urge to peek and saw no one inside. Sharpay was confused and she hurriedly went down to see if his car was in the garage. Reaching the foyer, she heard distant sounds of sobbing coming from a room.
But this one thing I cannot change
I almost kinda like the pain
Wear your tattoo like a stain
And it will take forever to fade away
Troy let all hurt and guilt that have been consuming him out. He caressed Sharpay's face in the photograph and felt his knees give away. He sobbed with his right hand still trying to caress the face of his wife in the photograph. He desperately wanted Sharpay; he couldn't take it any longer. But now he was going to lose her to another man and he wanted to die… pictures are all he has left of his once wonderful life now. That and his son who would still visit him every weekend when he's rescued…
I can't unlove you
Can't do that
No matter how I try
Sharpay entered the familiar room. It had been two years since she entered it and memories came rushing at her as she looked around. The room was empty except for portraits that lined one-fourth of its walls.
She saw Troy caressing their candid portrait, her face to be exact. She saw him drop to his knees and let out an agonized scream filled with anguish. She saw him look up and try to reach her face as he continued to whimper like a badly wounded animal. She heard him as he whispered to her face, "I promise to be yours and yours alone… if only in my dreams…" Troy bowed his head reverently and cried his heart out…
I'll never turn my back on
Someone who loved me too
I can do most anything I have to
She was shocked. Troy still wanted to be her man even if only in his dreams. Sharpay realized that Troy was willing to let her go and be happy with Norman. But will he be willing to change if she went back?
But I can't unlove you
Why would I want to?
Norman Conner was in love with Sharpay, not the other way around… Troy was the only man in her life. She could feel his hurt and she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. Sharpay felt him stiffen and look at her, confusion swirling in his ocean blue eyes. Sharpay nuzzled his nose and continued to hold onto him. Troy wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He didn't know why his ex-wife was hugging him but he just hugged her back.
I can't unlove you
Can't do that
I'll never get through it
Why would I want to?
"Pay…what are you doing up so late?" he whispered in her ear. The two were sitting on a loveseat in the middle of the portrait room and Sharpay laid her head on Troy's chest as he stroked her hair.
"Do you still love me Troy?" she asked suddenly looking at him.
"I do…" he answered and saw her beautiful brown eyes fill with tears.
There's always time for other dreams
Why must we erase these things?
"Always and forever, Pay… it was stupid of me to focus on other things and forget about you." Troy told her and Sharpay cried as she held on to Troy.
"When I left, I kind of expected you to woo me back into your arms…" she confessed.
"Knowing you, I would never make it to your building alive…" he joked.
"Stop it. Why didn't you?" she snapped lightly.
"I thought you meant it when you told me that from that day forward, I should forget about you…" he said and Sharpay looked up at him
"A girl doesn't always mean what she says…"
I can't unlove you
Can't do that
No matter how I try
"And that you don't love me anymore…" Troy told her. Sharpay rolled her eyes.
"God Troy, you are so literal…" she said and Troy pouted at her.
"So you still love me?" Troy cried; hope shining in his eyes as he stared at her.
"Well…duh!" was all Sharpay could muster before she felt Troy's lips on hers.
I'll never turn my back on
Someone who loved me too
It had been two years since she left Troy because…? He just made her so mad she wanted to give up. But now he was here, kissing her with all of him and she was there, kissing him back. It felt like there were a lot of things they had to make up for. Yet now was not the time…
But I can't unlove you
Can't do that
No matter how I try
Troy looked at her when she broke away and he felt embarrassed. Sharpay caressed his face and kissed his cheek. He understood that now was not the time, they still had to worry about Jacob – and Norman.
I'll never turn my back on
Someone who loved me too
I can do most anything I have to
But I can't unlove you
"I know this isn't the right time, but Pay, I have a favor to ask." Troy began tentatively.
"What is it?" she asked while caressing his cheek. Troy pressed her hand on his cheek.
"Sleep beside me tonight…" he asked her and to his surprise, Sharpay nodded eagerly.
"What about Norman?" he inquired and Sharpay shrugged.
"He was there when I lost hope on you…" she answered.
"But I'm here now…" Troy said and stood up offering his hand to Sharpay who held it and stood up to.
"I know, and that's all that matters." Sharpay told him and wrapped her arms around his neck as he gave her a kiss.
"I love you…" Troy whispered in Sharpay's ear as they lay in the master's bedroom.
"I love you too…" she whispered back before falling asleep with the feeling that she was finally back to where she belonged.
Please review! :)
They're back together...finally! I couldn't bear to write about another man in Sharpay's life other than Troy. I hope you like it! :)
