TROY'S POV

Oops.

Everyone else had gone home already, and I found myself playing basketball on my own. Some of the lights were turned off by the security guard, and the utility. They knew I was still here, so they were kind enough to leave the lights open. It's not like they had any choice but to do so, anyway.

I worked on my free-shots for more than an hour a while ago, I jogged 40 laps around the gym, and I just finished lifting weights.

Now, unsure what to do next- there wasn't really anything left to do- I sat down on one of the benches and decided to take a rest. It was exactly 9pm. Wow, I spent time working out longer than I thought.

Am I over-reacting to what my friends said? Or do I have a complete good reason to be angry?

I walked toward the center of the gym, and threw a basketball to the basket. The sudden reminder of my dumbass friends caused me to lose focus and I didn't shoot the ball the way I did before the thought came onto my mind. I screamed as I punched the other basketball with my clenched fist, it bounced off to the side as I covered my face with my hands. I ran my hand through my sweaty hair. I waited for the sound of the ball hitting the floor, but it never came.

I turned around and saw someone, a girl specifically, holding the basketball with both hands. She stood there watching me, before walking towards me. As she took a step closer to me, I quickly recognized who it was.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her; my voice attempting to crack.

"Well, I just decided to drop something off, it's outside," She said. Sarcasm was evident in her voice, but she still spoke softly, almost careful.

"What could you possibly have to give me?" I asked again. My voice sounded terrible, and I sounded so rude; I wish I could've been more polite, but I can't erase the speech bubble that came out, if only this was in a comic book.

"I don't know. I guess I just thought you wanted your daughter back" She shrugged.

Oh shit. I can't believe I forgot my own daughter! No wonder her ballet teacher was here.

"Oh, um, yeah, I would. Thank you..." I took a deep breath, "Very much"

"I guess it was a good idea for me to let her wait outside. She would most probably be frightened to see you, her father, like that...or this" She said as she threw the ball to me.

I threw the ball from my right hand to my left, and to the right, to the left.... You get the picture.

"Yeah, it most probably was." I agreed, too exhausted to come up with a better response. I don't know how my body still managed to throw hoops in the basket, but that's what it was doing at the moment. My muscles hurt, but it's as if my brain is ignoring it. Great.

"I brought her to a small diner with me and friends earlier today, I hope you don't mind. She was really hungry" She informed me

"Oh, it's alright. I'm sorry for the bother, though" I apologized. I stopped shooting, but I still had a basketball in hand. I turned to her and she was still looking at me the way she looked at me before,

She shrugged, "It's okay"

"I'm sorry if I'm being rude. I'm just tired from-" I started, "From the training you just did, or from the problems you're encountering that I'm not supposed to know?" she asked, cutting me off.

I just stared at her, and then started to shoot basketballs again. I heard her sigh from behind me, then she took a few steps, and to my surprise she stood beside me, grabbed a ball, and started shooting.

"What are you doing?" I asked her,

"I don't know, shooting?" she answered,

"I know, but--" I started
"I'm gonna be frank with you, Troy" she cut me off again.

"O-okay" I said, I stopped shooting, and so did she.

"Do you really care about Sophie?" She asked, "I know I'm not in the right place to ask you that, but... from the break down I saw from you just now, you looked...look... like you just came from your own damnation." She said. Wow. She meant it when she said she'll be frank.

I chuckled and shook my head, "Of course I care about Sophie," I replied.

"Please be honest" She said,

When she said those three words, I was suddenly not so sure about my answer.

The silence gave her the answer she was fishing for. "As I suspected," she muttered.

"Excuse me?" I said, rather angrily now. I'm extremely fed up with people suspecting me of irresponsibility and negligence.

"Don't get me wrong. I know it's a lot for you to take in. Being a free bachelor in one day and a daddy in the next? It's crazy" She mused as she sat on the floor.

I sighed, "You got that right" I muttered.

"So is that the reason why you blew up earlier?" She asked, as she hugged her knees.

I sighed, and then turned around to face her, "One of the reasons". Should I be completely honest with her? Or should I just turn her away?

I guess I'll start being honest when she starts being honest.

"And the other being...?" she asked me,

I shook my head, "nothing,"

What's the use of telling her? She thinks of me the way most people do, anyway. She couldn't help me.

I heard her inhale a soft breath. In a quiet evening, in a huge gym like this, you could hear practically everything.

She, all of a sudden, stood up and straightened her blouse. "I see you don't want to talk to me..." She chuckled.

I looked at my shoes.

"I guess I'll just get going, then." She said. I looked at her and she looked back at me.

"Thanks for taking care of Sophie. And I'm sorry for the bother; I'll give you a tip when Sophie goes to the dance studio." I said,

She shook her head, "No need for tips. I had a great time with Sophie," She said, as she smiled, remembering something.

"She's an interesting child, I wonder who she got it from..." She said to me. I chuckled, but she shook her head.

"Not from you, clearly," she teased.

"Really, now? How can you be so sure that I'm not interesting?" I said, smirking.

"You're right. There's nothing as interesting as a famous basketball player playing Volleyball with a basketball at 9pm" She said sarcastically, I let out a breathy laugh

"You are an interesting woman, Ms. Evans" I mused.

"I know I am."She said as she walked towards the exit.

I shook my head and started collecting my things, and gulping down the remains of my drink. I walked to the exit and to the main entrance of the training grounds.

"Hey, Sophie" I said as I saw her sitting on the waiting area.

"Hey, Troy", she looked at the security guard who was obviously pretending to read the newspaper and not minding them.

"Daddy" she quickly corrected herself.

I chuckled. That Sharpay girl really knew how to bring a man in high spirits.

"You must be tired, let's go home." I said as I grabbed her things.

"Finally!" She cried in happiness.

"And since I'm in a good mood tonight, I might even get us some Krispy Kreme Donuts on the way home" I said.

"Yes!" She cheered.

--

Sharpay's POV

Dark alleys and beads of sweat

It was dark around the street. That's a very strange sight to see, and a thing to say, but it was true. In New York city, empty streets weren't so likely.

I decided to walk to my apartment. I didn't feel like standing still and waiting for a cab to come. And I wanted to walk as well. I can't keep my giddiness bottled up in a cab; I need to constantly move.

It was freezing. I was wearing white skinny jeans, and a tank top under my black wool sweater. It wasn't enough to keep me warm, and my open-toe heels did not help in keeping me warm, either.

I shuddered. The cab was starting to seem like a good idea now. I stopped walking and looked around, checking if there were cabs coming my way. To my disappointment, there weren't any; there were several cars and cabs in the other road, which was quite far from where I am, and they weren't even any cabs driving in her area. How.... strange.

I had no choice, then. I decided to walk further. The apartment wasn't so far now. About 5 minutes more...when you're riding a car, but it will take about 10 minutes or more to get there on foot.

I sighed. I rubbed my palms together, hoping to create a warm sensation in my Popsicle fingers.

I turned on the end of the street. This area seemed, as if possible, colder than the other.

I kept on dragging my feet to go forward. But I decided to take a rest. It's usually easy for me to walk home. She's done it millions of times already... it's probably just the temperature that caused her to slow down.

I leaned on the lamp post, bringing relief to my back. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" A man's voice said. My eyes snapped open, and I saw a man, probably 30, walking towards me with a cryptic grin.

"Seems like we hit the jackpot tonight, eh, Greg?" another one from behind me said. I turned around and saw two more men looking at me.

"It seems most definitely so," the man who had spoken first, namely Greg, said.

I was confused for a second there, but then it hit me. I've seen this type of scene in movies I've watched before, and I knew very well what happens, and how it ends.

Fear overcame my body. Shit.

"Go away..." I tried to yell, maybe scare them away... but my voice sounded more like it was begging.

"No need to be bitter, darlin'... we just want to spend a little time with ya" Greg said.

"Yeah, we're a fun company; I like to think you'll enjoy having us around" the other said,

They started walking towards me. My heart was beating furiously.

"Really happy" Greg said as he traced my jaw line with his finger.

"Don't touch me," I said.

They ignored me. Greg, being the first take, started kissing my neck furiously. I tried to push him off, but he was too strong.

"Get away from me!" I cried out.

--

Troy's POV

In the right place at the right time

I and Sophie were munching donuts as we were driving home. She was happy, and I'm glad. I hope she won't use the fact that I left her for numerous hours against me.

I decided to let her control the radio. She chose the station that was playing her favourite songs from Hannah Montana. Sigh.

It was a deadly sight, the traffic. It was horrible. It would take me such a long time to reach the apartment if I use this road. There is traffic less street nearby. I could use it, but it was the long way to the apartment. I glanced at the traffic, and thought that it would probably take more time to use this road, than the other. The other road it is. I shifted the gear, and turned the blinkers on. A few movements here and there, and I was cruising down the empty streets.

I drove the straight street calmly, driving in New York City never felt this good and easy. I turned on the street and caught a glimpse of something that caused my stomach to flip.

Leaning on the lamp post, was a lady. She was surrounded by men. One was in front of the lady. And the other two were....hooting.

I caught a glimpse of the lady's face, and my jaw dropped to the floor of the vehicle. I stepped on the breaks as hard as I could. I unbuckled my seatbelt, and told Sophie to stay inside the car. I got out of the car and marched right up to the man on top of the lady.

Sharpay's POV

Salvation

I cried and cried. The man had tore my jacket off of me and he kept on hitting me straight on the face if I tried to run or deny him his desires.

My head already hurt from the numerous times he'd push it to the post and his slapping. I didn't know what the hell I was going to do.

I know that this wasn't over. After him, it would be the next, then the last. And maybe, they'll find a good way to dispose of me later. Aw shit.

I heard tires of a car screeching very loudly nearby, and a car door opening then closing.

Was this a good thing? Will this person help me? Or will he rape me too?

"Get your hands off of her, you bastard!" I heard a familiar voice say. Troy?

Greg was pushed off of me. And I felt the chill of the night hit my bare arms and almost chest.

I sat down on the gravel and hugged my knees. I sobbed and sobbed as I listened to the ramble going on around me. I wanted to help Troy beat the snot out of these men, but my body wouldn't let me move.

"...Who do you think you are, huh?..." I heard Troy say as he punched one of the three men.

It scared me to think that Troy was fighting those men alone, but what else could I do? Calling 911 would be too late.

More fighting, more punches, and more kicks later... things suddenly got quieter, with the exception of my constant sobbing. I looked up, afraid of what I might see, and saw Troy, standing. His face flushed and his hair tousled.

He took a deep breath before he rushed toward me.

"Sharpay, can you move?" Troy asked me. I nodded as I sobbed. He scooped me up in his arms and took me to his car. He let me lay down on the backseat as he and Sophie were seated in the front.

"What happened!?" Sophie asked,

"I'll explain later, Sophie. " He said before he sped off. I whimpered as I reminisced on what had just happened.

How could I be so stupid? Walking home during the night, in an empty road; the situation screamed DANGER.

I continued whimpering until Troy stopped the car. He and Sophie and got out, then the door by my head opened. Troy gently got me out and carried me in.

He whispered comforting words to me; his breath hitting my face, it smelled sweet. And his cologne smelled just so enchanting. Although, small hints of the scent of sweat were still there, he still smelled descent. I slowly felt myself losing consciousness. I didn't fight it anymore. It had been a LONG day, and falling asleep in Troy's arms seemed like the only thing right in the world.

Author's Note: LONGEST AND, IN MY OPINION, THE BEST CHAPTER I'VE WRITTEN. :) I hope you enjoy reading this chapter just as much as I did writing it. :) I'm sorry for not updating, but I guess the length of this chapter is my way of paying the price of my 'absence'. Please review. :)

With Hearts,

LA2021~