Playing With Fire


Summary: One night drastically alters the course of senior year. Now, graduation is the last thing on their minds as the gang are faced with problems that none of them could imagine, putting their relationships, their futures and even their lives at risk.

Pairings: Chaylor, Troyella.

Warnings: Possible mild language, violence, mentions of adult themes.


8. Can of Worms

It was early. Gabriella was always early. She arrived at school with at least half an hour to spare everyday, just to get her bearings, organise her things and prepare herself for the day ahead. There was rarely anyone around at this time. The staff, of course, but other than them there was only a handful of pupils in the entire building. She liked it that way. It was peaceful, so different in comparison to when it was totally thriving with student life. And she felt welcome in the stark silence.

Well, she usually did. Not today. Today it was overbearing, threateningly present. The emptiness of each corridor hung over her like a daunting peril and she felt unjustifiably uneasy. She'd barely slept last night, the image of the shadowy figure in her garden imprinted on her mind. She tried to convince herself it was nothing but to no avail. She was traumatized.

A few more people had arrived at school now and the building was waking up. Gabriella decided to make her premature way to homeroom to pass the time in a more comfortable space and perhaps get some work done. The classroom was usually empty still at this time in the morning, but there was one person sitting at a desk on the back row.

Troy's head was down as he deeply examined the words on the page that lay on his table. Surely a homework sheet that had been due many weeks earlier. He looked up sharply when he heard Gabriella enter. Then struggled to decide whether to look away or keep staring at her.

He wasn't still angry. But hurt. Confused. He'd seen all the missed calls she'd left him. He felt bad. She cared and he didn't doubt that. But at the time he didn't want to speak to her and say something in the heat of the moment that he'd regret. It was always just easier to avoid things than deal with them.

"Can we talk?" Gabriella said, slowly nearing Troy.

He let his eyes drift back to the question page but nodded and felt distantly pleased when Gabriella dragged her seat to be opposite him.

"Look," She said forwardly, having thought about what she was going to say all morning. "I should have told you, I know that. But I was scared." She admitted. "Scared of losing you."

Troy looked up at her and her eyes spoke honesty and sincerity. "But if you'd told me the truth, I would have understood." He assured her, still wondering why she wouldn't trust him.

"I know. I know that now." She sighed and lay her hands on his table. "I feel so stupid." Troy could see she was telling the truth. She seemed so full of regret, she could barely hold his gaze.

"Don't." Troy smiled stiffly and placed a hand on top of hers. He didn't like seeing her so torn-up, especially because of him. Her apology was heartfelt and he didn't find it hard to forgive her. "I think I overreacted." He added with a quiet chuckle, but Gabriella didn't seem to agree. "What?"

Gabriella looked him in the eye with uncertainty. Was he overreacting? Was she making this into a bigger deal than it actually was? "I think Asher's a little bit…infatuated." She admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing really but," she paused to consider her next words. Troy had already unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand and she could see the unimpressed look in his eyes. "He keeps messaging me," She said, trying to make it sound like nothing. "And calling. And last night I thought-" No. Troy didn't need to know about that. It was nothing and telling Troy would make it something. "Never mind."

Troy frowned. "Go on." He urged with curiosity.

Gabriella hesitated. She felt like she was about to open a can of worms.

"No more secrets Gabi." Troy continued firmly.

"It was probably just my imagination." Gabriella told him coolly. "I mean, he can't be that interested. But I thought I saw someone in my backyard."

Troy's eyes widened so far that they looked as though they might pop out. "Are you serious?" He asked with shocked disbelief.

"But, like I said," Gabriella quickly added. "It was probably my imagination."

If it wasn't for his girlfriend's blasé attitude towards the whole thing, Troy would have absolutely gone mad. The idea that someone would watch Gabriella from her own backyard was sickening. But, because Gabriella seemed unperturbed by it, he assumed that she was right and it was nothing more than her imagination. He certainly hoped so.

While they'd been talking, Gabriella and Troy had barely noticed the time ticking by. Ms. Darbus had long since arrived, as had most of their classmates. The day had officially begun. The couple settled in their seats while Darbus recorded attendance and collected lunch orders, then she allowed them to begin their individual quiet tasks. It was now that Chad's absence became apparent.

Taylor tried not to worry. She wasn't supposed to care. But after that mysterious phonecall he'd received yesterday, she didn't know what her ex-boyfriend was dealing with. Something could have happened to him. Wherever he'd gone, it seemed pretty urgent. What if he hadn't come back?

The classroom door swung open and Chad sauntered in carelessly. This time, he didn't even bother to try and look innocent in order to escape a berating. He couldn't be bothered.

"Late again Mr. Danforth." Ms. Darbus called out as Chad made his way to his desk. "Why am I not surprised?"

Chad slumped down heavily in his seat. "Huh?" He asked, though he didn't really care. He leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out.

Increasingly unimpressed, Ms. Darbus raised an eyebrow at Chad. "It's becoming somewhat of a pattern." She sighed. Chad shrugged. "And what far-fetched excuse will you treat us to this time?"

His excuse? Chad doubted she'd be pleased with the truth. The truth was; he was hung-over. After the good news the day before, when Trevor officially invited him into the gang, Chad had gone to celebrate with Damon and few of the other boys. They were refused entry to every bar they came across, so eventually they just bought a load of alcohol, went to the park and got unfathomably drunk. Chad couldn't remember most of the things that happened that night, but he also couldn't remember the last time he'd had such uninhibited fun.

Monday morning hadn't been much of a treat though. He'd woken up in his bed, not knowing how he'd made it home, and threw up the moment he sat up. He was sweaty but cold and his heart was thumping so hard and loud. It took all his effort to move even the slightest bit. There was no way he was getting out of bed for school. But then his dad walked in, saw the puddle of vomit on the floor and lost it. He knew what his son had been up to. He was furious. Chad was forced out of bed, a physical feat, and got driven straight to school.

For that reason, he just wasn't in the mood. He scowled in response to Darbus' question and folded his arms on the table to create a pillow for his head. Then he buried his eyes in his sleeves and tried to shut out the world.

"None of that attitude Chad," Came the shrill voice of Ms. Darbus. Chad wanted to kill himself. "Or maybe you'd like to explain your tardiness to Mr. Matsui. And get your head off the table please."

Chad sat up straight, a grimace on his face. By now the whole room was captivated by Chad's unusual manners. He was a cheeky boy, sure, but he never misbehaved with such a serious and sour approach. Darbus too seemed almost shocked by the behaviour of one of her typically chipper students, but she had a class to organise and decided to linger on the matter no longer.

She began to read out a list of announcements and Chad allowed himself to recline in his seat once again. He pulled out his cell-phone when his pocket vibrated and found that he'd received a text from one of the guys. His name was Aaron and he needed Chad to deliver something for him. It sounded exciting.

Ms. Darbus cleared her throat to get Chad's attention. He'd not noticed that she was now standing right beside him. Everyone else in the room was staring. Darbus seemed to have reached the end of her tether. She held out a bucket full of confiscated items and glared at Chad expectantly.

"I believe you're familiar with the rules regarding cell-phones in class."

She wasn't getting his phone. First of all, Chad was halfway through replying to the message, he didn't want to lose all that progress. And secondly, he'd only just got this phone, no-one else's hands were touching it. Instead, he stared back at Darbus for a while, silently daring her to challenge him. Then, he returned his attention to the large touch-screen of his cell and continued writing out the text message.

The room, which had been home to a few whispers and some shuffling, now fell totally silent with shock. No-one disobeyed a direct order from a teacher. Especially not a senior. Gabriella and Troy exchanged looks of utter bewilderment while Taylor tried desperately to seem unfazed.

"You've already got a 20 minute detention; do you want me to make it half an hour?" Darbus raised her voice, placing the bucket on Chad's desk so she could put both hands on her hips. "I'll give you five seconds to reconsider the decision you're making and then-"

She was cut off mid-sentence as Chad rose quickly from his seat. There was a mutual gasp throughout the room and Darbus jumped back slightly before attempting to hide the fact she was cowering. Chad stood over her, gazing almost threateningly into her eyes. His fists were clenched and it seemed very probable that he would hit her.

"Forget it." He said calmly, turning away from her to pick up his bag. "I'm done with this place."

He started towards the door but Troy grabbed his arm as he passed. "Dude." He said in a hushed voice, still somewhat stunned and extremely concerned.

Chad forced a smile. "I'll see you later." He said simply, then he was out the door.

It was the gossip of the day. Perhaps even the biggest news of the whole semester. Chad had dropped out. Everyone was talking about it.

Taylor wanted the world to just shut up. It was too much to digest. She didn't want to think about him. She didn't like what he'd become. She sort of blamed herself. If they were still together she'd have talked some sense into him a long time ago.

In an attempt to avoid the constant tittle-tattle of scandal regarding her ex, Taylor had gone to the school library after lunch for her free periods. She'd had enough with the questions. People assumed she knew what was going on because she and Chad were close. They used to be close. Now she had no idea what was going on with him. Her plan for privacy backfired however when Gabriella knew exactly where to find her.

"You've been quiet today." Gabriella said, taking a seat beside her best-friend.

Taylor looked at her and shut her book. She knew she and Gabriella would get no studying done now. "I can't believe Chad did that." She thought aloud. "Do you think he's really gone?"

"I don't know." Gabriella said. She didn't want to lie. But the look on Taylor's face made her reconsider. "He wouldn't…" She trailed off, not certain of her own words.

"He's changed, Gabi." Taylor shook her head, clearly agitated. All the build-up of thoughts was finally coming out. She couldn't stop it. "I saw him on Sunday." She continued. "He'd been smoking. His room's full of new clothes and shoes. I don't know where all the money's coming from." She took a deep breath to recompose herself. "Don't think I want to know…" She added pensively.

Gabriella tried to let the hurried rush of words sink in. She struggled to make sense of it all but one factor of Taylor's rant stood out to her. "Wait, you went to see him?"

Taylor nodded.

"And…?" Gabriella pushed.

"And what?"

She rolled her eyes. "Did you tell him?" She asked.

Taylor looked away and began fidgeting with her book. "I tried but he had to leave."

When she glanced back at her friend, Taylor found that Gabriella had a suspicious look in her eyes. Doubtful. It was irritating.

"I tried!" Taylor insisted.

"Shhh!" The librarian called out.

Gabriella lowered her voice to a near-whisper. "Have you even decided what you're gonna do?"

Taylor said nothing. She didn't want to make decisions. This was the biggest thing that had ever happened to her. Any choice would drastically alter her future. She couldn't just 'decide' one day. There was no solution.

"You don't have time to-"

"It's hard, Gabriella." Taylor interrupted. This wasn't the kind of thing she wanted to hear. She wanted encouragement, advice. "You wouldn't understand." She muttered.

Gabriella was hurt by that. It pained her to know how distant she had become from her best friend. But she mainly hurt because it was true. "You're right." She said solemnly. "I don't understand." But then she was angry. She wasn't used to things not making sense. Taylor was supposed to make sense. Taylor had always been the constant, the person she relied on to be logical and right all the time.

"I don't understand how someone as smart as you can get pregnant in high school." She continued, disliking the bitterness in her voice but doing nothing to get rid of it. "I don't understand how you're almost a month and a half along and you still haven't got a plan. I mean, what do you think is gonna happen?" She didn't give Taylor a chance to answer. "It's just gonna sort itself out for you? Please, explain it to me 'cause I have no clue what's going through your head right now."

Silence.

Taylor just looked at Gabriella. She looked at her like one would look at a stranger. No, worse; an enemy. Her eyes narrow and her mouth twisted into a sour glower. "God, I knew you'd be like this." She said quietly.

"Like what? Concerned?" Gabriella replied. "I care about you, Tay. I just don't want to see you ruining your life."

"That's what you think I'm doing?" Those words had struck a nerve in Taylor.

Gabriella didn't say a thing.

"Wow." Taylor let out a mirthless chuckle. She stood from the table and gathered her books before turning back to Gabriella. "Well thanks for your support." She said sarcastically. "I'm glad I know where we stand."


A/N: No, I'm not dead, just crappy when it comes to regular updates. Exams… ugh. Nuff said. Thanks, as per, to my beautiful reviewers, one in particular- OlympicBeliever who left a helluva lot of reviews! Thanks a bundle :D And everyone else who I love just as much; LadiiSmoothCriminalz, Lexi, LizArchibald, AerisTifaYuffie, pumpkinking5, ChaylorTwilightQueen10, pamylz, Team-Jacob10244 and chaylorXtraylorlover!

Oh and LadiiSmoothCriminalz- You asked about Sharpay, I would have replied in a PM but I think this question may be on a lot of people's minds. She makes quite an appearance in the next chapter. That's all I'mma say so just stay tuned :D Okay… I'm also gonna say that the next chap is a lil bit exciting :P It'll be called 'Party Time' so let your imaginations run wild with that one.

Also…. Chaylor fans this bit's for you! Like Gabriella, I'm sure you#re waiting in sweet anticipation for Chad to finally bloody find out already and all of your suggestions have been really good; some sweet, some intriguing, all very interesting. I can assure you that he will find out. In due time. But how? You'll have to wait and see ;)

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