Ok, kinda switching gears I thought this would be a good time to bring up a little of why Troy is so involved in the Montez family, I will be back to the main story soon just thought I'd give a little detail…
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Gabriella sat nervously in the back of a cab as it sped towards Lazy Acres, she turned towards Troy who was unusually silent, "How do you know?" was all she could think of to say…
Troy turned his gaze to her and tried to smile, he knew what she was trying to ask… His thoughts drifted to a time years earlier…
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A nineteen year old Troy Bolton parked his rental car in front of a large ranch style home in New Mexico; He stopped in front of a large red door and nervously ran his hand through his hair… He reached up and lifted the knocker…
After waiting a few seconds the door opened and an elderly woman dressed in a light blue maid's uniform pulled open the door, she smiled at him with warm eyes and said… "Hello can I help you?"
Troy returned her smile, "Yes, I'm Troy…" he paused at the blank expression on her face, "Troy Bolton, I have an appointment with Mrs. Montez..."
The maid nodded, "Oh yes Mr. Bolton I'm sorry I didn't expect you to be so young…"
Troy shrugged and the maid laughed and she motioned for him to follow her inside…
Troy glanced around as he followed the maid to a large sitting room; he took in the expensive furniture and looked briefly at the scattered family photos when the maid turned, "Mrs. Montez should be only a second Mr. Bolton… would you like something to drink?"
Troy took a seat on one of the Victorian style couches and coughed, "Maybe just water?"
The maid nodded and quickly exited the room…
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Troy looked up when Gabriella spoke again, "How do you know so much about my family Troy?" Troy had to look away from her intense brown eyes…
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Troy was examining an oil painting of what he could only assume was a distant relative when he heard someone enter the room from behind him…
He turned and there was a woman, from her appearance between 30 and 45… she was dressed in sensible navy pumps, black hose, a navy suit skirt and a simple white shirt with a navy cardigan… her massive dark curls were arranged in a clip at the back of her head…
He was surprised by the warmth in her eyes, he judged from their brief phone conversation that she was very cold in person… but he saw no evidence of it…
"Hello Mr. Bolton…" She smiled as she entered the room…
"Mrs. Montez" he answered as he watched her move towards one of the empty chairs and motion for him to sit…
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes when Vivian Montez spoke, "So… let's skip the small talk… we both know why you're here"
Troy took a sip of water, "Yes I suppose we do…" he took a breath, "I wanted to ask you about Paulo Montez…"
Vivian nodded, "Yes, yes I've heard you're planning on writing a novel based on his life as Hot Hands…"
Troy returned the nod, "I was wondering if you could tell me about his life after being Hot Hands… I want to tell the rest of the story…"
At that Vivian laughed, "There's not much to tell he spent the last few years of his life raising me and my daughter…"
Troy leaned back on the couch... "Well that in it self could be interesting…"
They laughed together as Vivian asked her maid to bring them a plate of sandwiches…
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Troy winced and touched his face as Gabriella waited for an answer, "It's a long story…"
Gabriella shrugged and gestured around the cab, "I'm not going anywhere…"
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Two months passed since Troy's first meeting with Vivian, they quickly became friends, and in fact they clicked so well in that first meeting Vivian invited Troy to stay the summer in her large home… Although the situation was weird to outsiders, Troy spent his time asking Vivian about Paulo Montez and laughing over their similar taste in movies…
As time passed Troy began to notice Vivian's illness but chose to ignore it as long as she did, until one day at dinner he finally broke down at Vivian's lack of appetite and pale face… "how long do you have Vi?"
Vivian looked up from her full plate, "Until what?" she smiled…
Troy sighed and threw his red cloth napkin onto his plate, "I'm not stupid Vi I see what's happening to you…"
Vivian returned the sigh, "I know you're not stupid… I just…" she gasped, "I just don't want to talk about it…"
Troy crossed his arms over his chest, "Vi… you're like my sister… I need to know…"
Vivian set down her fork and wiped the beginnings of the tears from her eyes, "At best a few years…"
Troy frowned, "What is it?"
Vivian gasped again, "Cancer…"
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Troy reached over and placed his hand over Gabriella's squeezing gently he smiled, "Can we save it for a less stressful day?"
Gabriella frowned but nodded, "Okay…"
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Days passed and Troy watched Vivian fade "Call your daughter…" he pleaded with her… They talked briefly about Gabriella; Troy heard stories about how Vivian and Paulo tried to stamp the fire out of her… and how guilty Vivian felt…
Vivian shook her head from the chair where she spent most of her time, "I can't she's happy at school… For the first time in a long time… I can't rip her away."
Troy stood and began to pace, "You should have family around you Vi…"
Vivian released her hair from the bun on the back of her head, "I don't want her to see me like this…"
Troy turned to her and knelt in front of her, "if you don't call her I will"
Vivian leaned back on the couch and sighed a defeated sigh… "Alright, but you have to leave before she gets here…"
Troy touched her hand confused but happy she agreed to call her daughter he nodded, "Okay…"
Days later Troy packed his things and with a last hug goodbye he left New Mexico to return to his real life.
(An: More to this I will reveal later)
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Troy snapped into the present when the cab pulled up in front of a large grey institution like building LAZY ACRES was blazed across the top in faded green paint Gabriella quickly jumped from the cab and was half way up the large stone steps when she turned and called to him, "Troy… come on…"
Troy quickly thrust some bills at the cabby and slide out of the car he ran up the stairs and followed Gabriella into the building…
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Alright, more Fluff next chpt I PROMISE (thanks to those who answered my question)… Thanks again for the reviews Thanks luvokemo for the idea about Chaylor… I do plan to get them together later on but have to get Troy and Gabriella together first….Hopefully…
PS This story has had over 5000 hits! Holey Mackerel