Author's Note: Welcome back. Last time, Zeke offered his thoughts on Jason, and revealed his second secret: his parents are overly critical. This time, we turn to our final character, Troy. There will be one additional chapter after this one, and then we're done!
Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical. If I did, I'd give Chad and Ryan solos.
11:49 P.M.
I'm still awake.
I've been trying to sleep for almost an hour now.
But -
I can't.
It's like trying to sleep on Christmas Eve.
Except the thing I'm anticipating is much more...
Disturbing.
I guess I really am trying to put it off.
The longer I stay awake, the longer I can keep them away.
Them.
The nightmares.
They come to me a few nights a week.
More often when I'm stressed out.
And since tryouts they've come every night.
They're always the same.
Somehow we're all together.
All the Wildcats.
Like a party.
And we're all having fun.
Dancing.
Drinking.
Laughing:
Fun.
But then -
Then -
It all stops.
People start arguing.
Fighting.
And everyone has something to say to me.
Usually about how worthless I am.
Or how they think I've let them down.
And when I wake up -
Panting -
Wild -
I know that it's all a dream.
My friends support me.
They've always got my back.
But now -
Now -
For the first time in a long time -
Only Gabriella -
Who doesn't even know me -
Is on my side.
Even Chad thinks I'm making a mistake.
Which hurts.
For as long as I can remember, we've been...
Inseparable.
Practically brothers.
And I know that brothers argue, but...
Never like this.
Never has he not come around to my way of thinking.
Never has he not defended me, even when he knows I'm wrong.
Never has he abandoned me.
And now -
Now -
He has.
And it hurts.
Hurts more than anything the nightmares have ever thrown at me.
So:
I can't sleep.
I can't let myself sleep.
Because I know they'll come.
Because in the latest nightmares, we're all having fun.
And Chad comes over and says he's so proud of us.
Of the team.
And how we're going to win it all this season.
And then we hug.
And then -
Then -
I feel it.
I know you're not supposed to feel anything in dreams.
They're only dreams.
They're not real.
But I swear:
I feel something digging into me when Chad hugs me in the nightmare.
And when he pulls away, he's still smiling.
Like nothing's wrong.
And I look down:
A knife, sticking out of my chest -
My heart.
And I look down:
Blood pooling on -
My hands.
And I look up:
Chad's still smiling.
You're the one who killed us, Troy.
I scream.
And I look up:
The red light gleams.
12:26 A.M.
Author's Note: What did you think? I'm the most nervous about this one, so please give me some feedback. Remember: there's one more chapter to go!