Because you were mine
Epilogue
Life is just a chance to grow a soul – A. Powell Davies
"Do you remember our anniversary, Pay?"
"We've had a lot of anniversaries Troy."
"Our anniversary where our children first cooked us breakfast?"
"Oh I do – what about it?" Sharpay asked glancing at Troy was seated beside her in the Theater of Brearly School, a private school for girls. They were currently watching a play, Wicked, and their daughter who was just a freshman, managed to get the role of Elphaba.
"Well, she's just like her mother. Headstrong and always gaining everyone's attention." Troy smirked but Sharpay rolled her eyes and continued on watching the play. Her daughter was currently singing I'm Not That Girl and Sharpay was proud of her accomplishments. Like her mother, Zoe started to act at a very young age and starring in lead roles for Community Theater much to the delight of the Evans family. Troy was also proud of his daughter and he constantly hung professional photographs of her with her cast in his office along with Zach's pictures of every basketball game.
"I had the gut feeling she'd be just like her mother when she grows up." Troy smirked and Sharpay patted his stomach and shaking her head. Suddenly a tall blonde man bent down and kissed her cheek. Sharpay looked up and smiled at her son who was holding a bouquet of roses.
"What'd I miss?" he whispered in a deep baritone and Troy glared at him before pointing at the empty seat beside his wife indicating that he sit down and keep quiet.
"Not a lot but you're kind of late." Sharpay whispered and continued watching the play. She turned to her husband who was now immersed in watching his daughter sing and dance under the spotlight.
"What're you thinking?" Troy didn't seem to hear and Sharpay asked him again. He turned to her with tears glistening in his eyes and Sharpay immediately knew what was on his mind.
"We almost lost her," he whispered his voice hoarse from the memory of Gabriella's attack.
"But she survived, didn't she?" Sharpay whispered and kissed his cheek just as Troy's mind reeled a flashback twelve years ago…
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Three years have passed since the stalking of Gabriella Montez began. The Boltons are now undisturbed by certain psychotic lovesick ex-girlfriends and they have lived a very peaceful life so far. Everybody has moved on and the Boltons even bought a new dog named Bono since he howls too much whenever U2 songs are played.
At the break of dawn, two robe-clad figures descended the staircase and crept into the kitchen. Bono looked up from his basket which also served as his security post. His master put a finger on his lips and the dog immediately burrowed his head between his paws making someone giggle. The blonde haired boy immediately sent a warning look to the little brunette girl.
"Zoe, you are going to wake them up!" an eight-year old Zachary Bolton hissed.
"But Bonnie funny!" the little girl protested gripping her teddy bear tighter to her chest as she started to suck on her thumb looking fearfully at her older brother. Zach softened at the look of suppressed fear in his sister's blue eyes and immediately regretted being so harsh.
"Yeah, Bono is real funny but this is important Zoe. It's Mom and Dad's anniversary and we're going to make them something special, remember?" he asked hoping to jog his little sister's memory.
"Oh me r'member, you make them eggies, wight Zach?" she asked politely and her big brother nodded proudly puffing out his chest a bit.
"Yeah, Uncle Zeke taught me how to make them and he said I'm good," the boy boasted as he started going around the kitchen rummaging for the pots and pans. His lack of proper height didn't dissuade him from reaching the pans hanging far from his reach nor did it make him hesitant of his job. In fact he was even more determined to reach the utensils and ingredients he needed taking it as a challenge while his little sister settled herself beside Bono and sucked her thumb.
For an eight year old doing grown-up stuff, he was pretty good and it made him proud that the eggs weren't burnt or runny and that the orange juice he poured didn't spill on the countertop. Zach knew that his parents preferred coffee but being unable to figure out how to work the coffee machine, he settled himself on something he could actually do.
"Hey Zoe, I'm gonna unlock the backdoor, 'kay? Mind getting some flowers for Mom?" Zach asked his little sister while he arranged the eggs and the bread he toasted along with the orange juice.
"Otay Zach, Mommy love flowers." Zoe called out as she trotted outside with Bono at her heels.
Fifteen minutes later, a tray with two plates of eggs and toast, orange juice and a fresh bouquet of flowers were carried by Zach to his parents' bedroom door. After setting the tray down on the floor, he hurried back down to assist his little sister and when she was safely standing beside him, he picked up the tray and opened the door.
Sunlight bathed the master's bedroom of the Bolton household and the couple snuggled up on the king-sized bed continued to sleep. Zach crept into the room followed by his sister and they watched their parents peacefully sleeping before Zoe abandoned all stealthiness and immediately made a running dive… right onto her father's stomach.
"Ooompff!" Troy cried feeling winded as he felt someone bouncing on his stomach and something fluffy bouncing on his face. He opened his eyes to see his daughter excitedly making his stomach her personal trampoline with her teddy bear making her face its own. But as much as he loved her, he didn't want to throw up so early in the morning.
"Zoe (bounce) honey (bounce) please (bounce) get off (bounce) Daddy." Troy pleaded in between her bouncing and when his daughter seemed to hardly notice his pleas – since it was also muffled by the teddy bear, he held her and lifted her off him. Zoe gave him a toothy grin and then glanced at Zach who seemed to have frozen in place looking annoyed at his sister.
"Hey honey, what have you got there?" everyone glanced at Sharpay. Troy looked at her in surprise since he thought that she was asleep all throughout his daughter's onslaught; frankly he was shocked she could sleep through all those bouncing.
"Sharpay?! You were awake all this time?" Troy gasped and his wife gave him a smirk.
"Who wouldn't wake up when someone is bouncing your bed like her life depended on it?" she quipped making her husband frown at her.
"You could have gotten her off me," he whined as his wife giggled.
"But she was having so much fun…" she retorted and Troy just scowled. Zoe observed her parents' light banter and decided to make her presence known by bouncing again on her father's lap. This time Sharpay and Zach laughed as Troy tried to get her to stop.
"Looks like the Evans gene isn't at all lost." Sharpay teased as she beckoned her son over to her.
"Oh yeah, they really know how to capture one's attention." Troy muttered sarcastically as his daughter jutted out her lower lip a bit and pouted knowing that it would make her father putty in her hands.
"Yes Princess?" Troy asked his little girl who immediately smiled as she basked in his now undivided attention.
"Zach said that it you and Mommy special day. So I make you and Mommy a 'Happy Special Day You and Mommy' card!" she said smugly showing him a card with a scanned photo of his and Sharpay's wedding covered in pink glitters and red heart cutouts. On top was a very shaky and loopy scroll that contained the heading Zoe just said.
"Wow Princess, that's amazing!" gushed Troy as he accepted the glittery card not minding the way the glitters stuck to his fingers and some falling on the bed sheets.
"Yeah, and I made you and Mom breakfast." Zach said after patiently waiting for his sister to finish. This reminded Troy of Sharpay and Ryan themselves and how much his children reminded him of the now grown-up fraternal twins.
Ever since Zoe was born, Zach understood that he was no longer the only one on the spotlight because he now had a little sister to share it with. As Zoe grew, everyone quickly realized that she was the miniature version of Sharpay during her younger years. She just had to be the center of attention and she worshipped pink. Troy often teased Sharpay that it was like déjà vu all over again and Sharpay would tease him that if it did, she would be growing up to be a hot chick like her mother with all the male species falling at her feet. This would effectively shut Troy up.
Zach, however, was like Ryan when it comes to his sister. He would give her the floor, be patient when she gets catty and starts to throw countless tantrums, listen to her unceasing ramblings and become her protector when anyone or anything threatens her safety. Troy marveled his son who in turn is usually as cocky and smug as him and also excels in sports. Plus they are both putty in Sharpay's hands – Troy because he loves her and Zach because he was a mama's boy.
"Honey, this tastes wonderful!" Sharpay exclaimed taking a bite of her eggs and even if it tasted the same to her, she thought it was the most delicious breakfast in the world because her son cooked it for her. Zach beamed at his mother's praise feeling really proud he had done something wonderful.
"Thanks buddy." Troy beamed taking a bite of his eggs which his daughter insisted on feeding him. Zach smirked but continued to attend to his mother since Zoe was still feeding Troy.
"Aww, doesn't your daughter think you're special?" Sharpay cooed giving her son her now empty plate. Zach just placed it back on the tray which he then perched on the bedside table before climbing on his mother's lap. Sharpay held him close to her bosom and they both watched Zoe instruct her father on the proper ways of eating his eggs and toast.
"Otay Daddy, you open mouth big and say 'Aaaahh'" she dictated as her father did as he was told. Zoe shoved the fork in with the small bit of egg and toast and Troy immediately shut his mouth, his teeth clenched tightly on the fork preventing the utensil further entrance not wanting injuries.
"Zoe…" Troy said but was given a patronizing gaze by her daughter.
"Daddy! No speak while mouth full. Now chew." Zoe reprimanded him and Troy obeyed looking helplessly at his wife and son who were both in a fit of silent giggles.
"Zoe…" Troy tried again but this time his daughter sighed furiously and faced him exasperatedly with both hands on her hips.
"I know you want to feed Daddy on his special day but Daddy can do it himself, okay? Now I want you to be a good girl and help your little brother take the tray down, alright?" Troy said in a stern yet charming tone. Zoe nodded, eager to please her father, and gave her older brother an impatient look.
"You hear Daddy – let's roll!" she said haughtily with a beckon of her hand as she hopped down the bed and waited for her brother to follow her out the door. When they were gone, Troy finished his eggs and toast while Sharpay enjoyed her orange juice.
"She looks and sounds more like you everyday." Troy muttered as he reached over and grabbed his glass of orange juice.
"Well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? Zach doesn't even listen to me anymore." Sharpay pouted whereas her husband just smirked.
"Zach has to grow up and be a man, Pay. You know smothering him with so much love will-" but Troy never got to finish his sentence when his wife sent him a death glare.
"What?" she asked and her husband fidgeted.
"Well… I'll talk to… him?" he stuttered and his wife immediately changed demeanor.
"Now that's an answer I am most willing to take." Sharpay beamed and went to the bathroom for a shower. Troy was too busy staring at her behind when he realized that she left him to fix the bed.
"Damn," he muttered standing up and doing his chore. As he bent down to arrange the pillows, he noticed the card his daughter gave him and remembered the night of the attack. Sharpay still didn't know that she was pregnant and was about two months along meaning that Zoe was being formed the evening the Boltons nightmare started. But even after crashing the Lexus and nearly hacked in the shower, little Zoe managed to pull through and become the ultimate blessing after the horrible ordeal of the Boltons.
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"Brava honey! I loved it!"
"Thanks Mom! Oh and Zach – you didn't have to buy me these…"
"Yeah, thanks a lot sis. Now you've made all my efforts to rush from NYU to Brearly and grab those flowers along the way seem like kaput."
"That was just me gushing, egghead."
"And this is me being sarcastic, Blondie." Troy rolled his eyes as his son and daughter continued their playful banter after the play. The family of four walked towards the limousine Troy owned and used for special occasions. Tonight, the Boltons are going to celebrate Zoe's success at landing the star role in only her freshman year. The limo drove to The New York Palace Hotel and Zoe's head was spinning with amazement!
"Daddy! Why're we here?" she squealed in excitement as she clung to her father's arm as the two walked across the grand lobby together.
"To celebrate your first big break, if I might say so myself." Troy told her and stopped by the maître d' to ask for the seats reserved under Bolton. The man smiled and led them to one of the corner tables beside the window. Troy thanked him and pulled out a chair for his wife while Zach did the same for Zoe although she insisted that she can do it herself for fear that he will pull a prank on her.
"My first big break? Daddy c'mon." Zoe teased feeling that there was much more to the occasion than meets the eyes – or what her father told her. Troy tensed a bit and Sharpay held his hand turning to her daughter with a smile.
"This is a very special night for us, honey. Though you may not understand what it fully means today, you will, in the future." Sharpay said and then gave her husband's hand a squeeze indicating that he should pick up where she stopped. Zoe glanced at Zach who didn't seem to want to listen.
"Fifteen years ago, I was promoted to editor-in-chief for SI and that was the night you were created," Zoe made a face, "And the night our nightmare started too." Troy told her the whole story and by the end, Zoe had tears in her eyes just as the soup arrived.
"So I was like your lucky baby?" she asked tearfully and her parents nodded. She smiled and hugged them both tightly after which she noticed her brother.
"What's wrong with you? Our parents just told me a heartwarming story and you sit there as cold as…" she was cut off by her mother who gave her a stern glance before shaking her head.
"Hey family, we're here to celebrate! So let's." Troy said trying to get everyone in the previous mood they were in. Sure enough, Zach seemed happier than before and Sharpay and Zoe kept singing and Troy just ate and laughed and enjoyed the company of his family. He happened to glance out the window and furrowed his brows, because for a second, he thought he saw Gabriella standing on the other street a bottle of vodka in her hand and a knife in the other but he just dismissed it as a figment of his imagination.
Little did he know…
My needs go unaided,
And my wants go unserved,
My agony goes unseen,
And my voices go unheard,
But I guess all this should be fine,
Because I always knew you were never mine
Fragrance of your love is all around me,
Because you are all that I ever see,
You are near, yet so far,
A lovely sign or a painful scar,
Whatever it is, I can hardly define,
Because I always knew you were never mine
It has really been a while
Since I sensed my true smile,
Never have I felt so helpless before,
Not having you, makes me want to have you even more,
The hurt is cruel & the healing so benign,
Because I always knew you were never mine
Never knew moving on would be so tough,
But winning you back can only be a destiny's bluff,
From here on it's a lonely walk all along too,
After all it's someone else, who you really belong to,
But I guess all this should be fine,
Because I always knew you were never mine
Rodney Tyler traced the engraved words on the headstone of his late publicist. He mirrored exactly what she felt when she was hounding Troy who he kept ignoring her. That day, when she tried to commit suicide, he was about to tell her that he has fallen in love with her but then he realized that she will never be his.
As she will never be Troy's…
Because I Always Knew You Were Never Mine by Ashok Patel
I just couldn't resist the poem and I just had to put it in there. But the good thing is, Gabriella's dead and she won't torment anyone anymore!