Chapter 9 – Sway With Me
The following Friday evening saw Lizzie sitting alone in her house playing piano. She was singing along to a song she had written addressing Gabriella, or Jenny. Lizzie personally didn't know anymore who she was singing for, it was too confusing for her to put her head around. 'It's too late to apologize…It's too late!' She was stopped by a knock at the front door. She opened it to find Justin, soaking wet from walking to her house in the rain. 'Justin, what are you doing here?'
'When you said that you didn't want to put me in danger, what did you mean?' Justin panted from running all the way from his house.
'That doesn't matter anymore. We are over. I can't hurt you.' Lizzie tried to close the door but Justin pushed his shoulder through the door and into the house.
'I don't care if I get hurt or whatever. I want to be with you, Elizabeth.' Justin gripped onto Lizzie's shoulders and looked into her bright blue eyes, making sure that she knew he was telling the truth.
Lizzie held back her tears. 'I can't, I'm-' she was cut off by Justin's lips on hers. She immediately kissed back and Justin pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, smiling. Lizzie sighed, 'Don't say I didn't warn you, though.'
'I will never let anyone near you,' Justin smiled and Lizzie leant up to kiss Justin again, smiling into the kiss.
'So, tomorrow I have to go to a dance class with my dad for a strange event thing, be my partner?' Lizzie said when they broke apart for air.
'Who will your dad dance with?' Justin asked.
Lizzie's face darkened, 'Sharpay.'
'Why Sharpay?' Justin shrugged.
Lizzie looked at him and rolled her eyes. 'You and me have a LOT of catching up to do.'
The next day Jennifer walked into the hall where the dance class was being held. She sat down next to Lizzie who was reading her cell phone, not looking up at her. The two haven't exchanged a word since the weekend before and Lizzie wasn't intending to talk to her anytime soon, which broke Jenny's heart. She sighed and smiled at Troy who waved to her while the dance teacher was walking to her. Lizzie rolled her eyes wondering how her dad could not recognize his ex wife, even though she was wearing a disguise.
Justin walked into the room and walked over to Lizzie and kissed her softly on the lips, oblivious who Jenny was. Jenny secretly smiled to herself as she realized that the couple were back together, but it disappeared as soon as Sharpay walked into the room and skipped over to Troy and kissed him full on the lips. 'She can at least be discreet,' Jenny whispered, earning a nod in agreement from Lizzie.
'Well then!' The dance teacher said, slightly shocked by Sharpay's display, 'Let's start!' She put on some music and Sharpay immediately started dancing with Troy while Justin and Lizzie made their way to the floor hand in hand before dancing.
For the next half and hour the teacher assisted the two couples with their technique. Jenny watched Troy intently, noticing that he didn't dance as fluidly as he did with Gabriella. When she existed. Jennifer sighed sadly again and grabbed a bottle of water from her bag. Suddenly 'Sway' by Michael Bublé came on and both Troy and Jenny immediately tensed up. Michael performed at Gabriella's and Troy's wedding, and they both vividly remember dancing to the song together, wowing the guests with their dancing. Sharpay tried to get Troy to dance again, not remembering the song at all, but Troy wouldn't move. Lizzie stopped dancing as she saw Troy begin to freak out slightly, and she remembers the dance from watching the wedding video. She shot a glare at Jenny, who calmly stood up and walked over to Troy pushing Sharpay away whispering, 'Let me try something.' As the singing started, Jenny started moving to the music, coaxing Troy to move with her, stiffly.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Jenny grabbed Troy's hips, and started moving again to the music, moving her hands so he swayed his hips, making him loosen up again. Lizzie watched in complete awe while Justin was confused.
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Troy moved so he was holding Jenny properly and on of her hands were on his shoulder while the other was gripping his hand tightly. They both felt an old familiar spark as they danced to the chorus.
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
Troy dipped Jenny low and her back arched perfectly. Her eyes snapped open as she realized what they were doing, but didn't stop as she let Troy lift her up again and started dancing. Sharpay's jaw dropped open while the teacher watched the pair impressed with how well they danced together.
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
They danced through t he instrumental, using the whole dance floor. Troy kept dipping Jenny and she managed to move so she twirled in his arms while he dropped her down. She quickly snapped herself up and they did a simple rumba dance step, laughing with joy as they danced together.
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
Troy twisted her around, so her back was in his chest, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, and she held onto his hands as they danced, completely absorbed by each other.
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
You know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
He twisted her around again and they continued to dance, their bodies getting closer and closer.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Troy lifted Jenny's right leg so her calf was wrapped around his waist. As soon as the key changed they both imagined their wedding day. Jenny was Gabriella again and she was wearing her gorgeous knee length floaty pink dress which she changed into halfway through the reception. Troy started spinning Gabriella around and dipping her even lower.
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Troy lifted Gabriella high, spinning her around, her dress swinging around beautifully. He lowered her and spun her under his arm and brought her close.
When marimba starts to play
Hold me close make me sway
Like the ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Gabriella buried her face into Troy's chest as they continued to move together to the music, completely lost in the rhythm and each other.
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
They finished moving, and everything turned back to the way it was before. Jenny snapped open her eyes and saw Sharpay glaring at her angrily, and the teacher, Lizzie and Justin staring at Troy and Jenny in shock. Troy remained with his eyes closed, not wanting to return from the dream he was reliving. Jenny pushed herself away from Troy's arms and walked briskly out the door.
She leant back against the cool brick wall outside the hall, closing her eyes, and felt the breeze against her skin, which were already covered in Goosebumps from the dance. She felt small tears slowly make their way down her cheeks and heard a voice say, 'That was some performance.' Jenny opened her eyes and saw Lizzie standing near her. Jenny gave a stiff laugh, not responding. 'I'm sorry Mo-Jenny.'
Jenny nodded and blinked, for tears to fall from her eyes again. 'So am I.' Lizzie hugged Jenny tightly and she immediately responded, wrapping her arms around her daughter's body.
'Will you ever come back?' Lizzie asked when they pulled back.
'I don't know. But as soon as I do, I'll visit you, as your mother. I promise.' Jenny answered and Lizzie nodded, knowing that her mother never broke her promises.
'Hey, sweetie!' Sharpay cooed as she walked outside. Lizzie looked at her angrily as she ruined the moment, 'Your daddy wants you inside to talk to you for a moment. And your beau seems a bit lonely.'
'Whatever,' Lizzie mumbled, and pushed past Sharpay to go see Justin and her dad.
Sharpay shot daggers at Jenny as she slowly walked up to her dangerously. 'I don't know what happened in there,' Sharpay said, 'but I do not want you doing anything like that with MY boyfriend again or I will make sure you are fired. Understand?'
Jenny rolled her eyes, 'Some things never change,' she whispered.
'What?' Sharpay demanded.
'Nothing,' Jenny smirked.
'Don't you get smart with me, you stupid little secretary!' Sharpay growled.
'I'm an assistant,' Jenny scoffed.
'You know what? You remind me of Troy's little bitch of an ex wife, and I don't like it!'
'Well that little bitch is much better than you will ever be, Sharpay Evans!' Jenny yelled.
Lizzie rushed out as she stayed hidden to listen to the encounter, 'Leave Jenny alone! And don't you dare insult my mother!'
'I told you to go inside!' Sharpay said.
'Well I knew you were lying. And I'm sure my dad will be thrilled to hear about what you have been saying about my mother!' Lizzie yelled back at her.
'He won't care. He hates her, remember. Gabriella left you…left you alone with no mother. She doesn't care about you! She only cares about herself and her own safety!'
Lizzie didn't reply and lunged at Sharpay and slapped her face. Jenny held Lizzie back and pushed her behind her before Sharpay could get her back. 'You bitch!' Sharpay spat.
'Stay away from Lizzie. Cause I will tell Troy what you have said!' Jenny said.
'Shar? Lizzie?' Troy called from around the corner. Sharpay and Lizzie quickly moved so it didn't look like they were fighting. Jenny narrowed her eyes, not understanding why the two women pretended that they weren't fighting when they were threatening to tell Troy what the other one was saying. Troy and Justin came into view and the three girls smiled innocently at them. Troy laughed slightly and Jenny's phoned suddenly went off.
Jenny excused herself and walked around the corner to answer the phone. She listened intently to the man who called her, then widened her eyes as he told her that the people she had been waiting for were quickly approaching her and the people she had been assigned to protect. She hung up the phone and put in an earphone which will give her instructions and how far away the people were. She rushed over to Troy to see that Justin had left. 'So are we leaving?' Jenny said, trying to sound as if nothing is happening. They are a kilometre away the earphone played into Jenny's ear.
'No, why?' Troy pondered.
'I just think we should go…now.' Jenny replied.
'You can't dictate us!' Sharpay growled.
'Jenny, what's going on?' Troy said, slightly concerned. Lizzie narrowed her eyes at her as she was working out what was happening.
'We-we need to go.' Jenny stuttered, shifting her feet side to side.
'Stop-' Sharpay started to be cut off by Jenny.
'Stay out of this Evans!' Jenny yelled. Half a kilometre. Get them out of there Montez!
'Hey! Don't talk to her like that!' Troy defended.
'Just get out of here!' Jenny demanded.
'No!' Troy huffed.
'You never change do you?! You have always been so stubborn! Just listen to me for once in your life!' Two hundred metres.
'What do you mean 'always'?' Troy said, slightly taken aback.
Lizzie's jaw dropped in shock. Jenny is here on some sort of mission. She remembered the day when it was revealed who she really was; the way she moved her hand to her hip when she was surprised…it was as if she was reaching for a gun. 'Just listen to her dad!' Lizzie said.
'Don't get involved, Lizzie,' Troy said.
Before anything more could be said, a speeding car came into the street. Three men jumped out the car and approached the four of them. Jenny moved in front of Troy, Lizzie and Sharpay and spread her arms out. 'Stay away from us!' Jenny demanded.
'Jenny?' Troy started, surprised by his assistant's actions.
'We'll be gone, as soon as we talk to Miss Bolton, over there,' one of the men said, pointing at Lizzie. Troy glared at them and pulled Lizzie close to his body, protecting her.
'I suggest you just leave, Kevin!' Jenny yelled.
'How do you know him?' Troy said.
'The only one who knows me by that name is…' the man started to say but was interrupted by Jenny launching herself at him. The two other men tried to tackle her, but she stood her ground and put up a fight.
'Get out of here!' Jenny shouted at the three spectators but they were too shocked to move. It started to rain hard but none of the people moved, or stopped fighting. Jenny fought with precision and great technique, blocking off every punch thrown at her and putting in kicks and punches herself. Lizzie watched with pride as she saw her mother fight to protect her daughter and her ex husband with his new girlfriend. Jenny grabbed the two other men with one hand on each man, and threw them towards Kevin. They collapsed in a bundle, and Jenny pulled out a gun from under her dress. She aimed the gun at the three of them, with a fiery glint in her eyes, and Troy had a flashback from that very same stare from when Gabriella confronted Derek at Lizzie's school.
Before Jenny could do anything, a swarm of men pushed past her and grabbed the three men and handcuffing them. One of the men dressed in dark clothes walked up to Jenny and patted her on the shoulder and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and looked towards Troy, Sharpay and Lizzie. Jenny smiled slightly and Lizzie started to walk forward but was held back by Troy who had a scowl on his face. Jenny looked down and hid the tear fall from her face. She turned around and walked away, not daring to look back.