A/N: Sorry about the delay, been ill and had a lot of work to do. Hope the wait was worth it, let me know what you think. Critisism always welcome! :) Hope you're all well love Alex Xxx
Troy paced the familiar plain room, bored out of his mind and curious to what was taking the police so long to conduct the compulsary interview and consequently release him, with a mere additional hours added to his community order that he wasn't even close to concluding. The only company he had within the box room were two chairs sitting adjacent each other with a oak table separating them, a small jug of water was placed on top of the surface but, Troy hadn't touched it. He could feel the cameras tracing his movement and was well aware people would be watching him from the other side of the one way glass, he slid down the furthest wall limiting the entertainment and residing himself to being stuck where he was for a long period of time. He knew Sharpay would have been released now but, he could guarantee she wouldn't have left the station and instead he could picture her berating the police officers as they passed until she grew bored and slumped in one of the waiting chairs, only to continue a while later. She wouldn't leave until he was able, and that's how it had always been. Even at the age of 2 when they first met, they had looked out for each other, particulary Sharpay over Troy. She was roughly 2 months older than him and very protective especially considering the childhood they'd both endured. Troy sighed feeling the hours drag, he was unable to check the time as there was no clock available to him and he'd had his phone confiscated upon being arrested but, he was able to estimate he'd been locked in that room for approximately 3 never ending hours. He was aware that his father would not be happy at the news, he'd been arrested again fearing that his operations were about to be blown when he had a big deal being sealed in the near future however, Troy was more concerned about what his father would do when informed he'd been found with Gabriella Montez after making his dislike for her evident.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Troy," Detective Flack smiled upon entering the sound proofed room.
"Can I go home yet?" Troy yawned staying seated on the ground despite Detective Flack settled himself in the nearest chair.
"No," Flack answered shortly. "Now let's get started shall we? Take a seat." He gestured to the only other occupied chair but, Troy remained stubborn and refused to move for the time beind.
"Where's my solicitor?" He questionned.
"We can do the interview without an adult present..." Detective Flack lied.
"I may be 15 but, I'm not stupid," Troy muttered fiddling with the end of his sleeve at the point of boredom.
Detective Flack was quickly called out by another man who, Troy couldn't place.
"What?" Flack cried.
"Jack Bolton is here," Neil sighed heavily. "He's demanding he sits in with Troy for his interview."
"But, that would mean..." Flack trailed off.
"That this whole exercise was pointless," Neil confirmed. "True but, Troy legally has to have an adult present and his father is demanding to be that adult, there's nothing we can do."
"It means we get zilch out of Troy," Flack protested. "He's never going to reveal anything with his father sat right next to him."
"You probably wouldn't have got anything anyway," Neil murmured before stepping out into the corridor and directing Jack Bolton through to the interrogation room, following behind while Detective Flack lingered outside peering in through the one way glass and listening to the recording filtering through. As predicted, Troy remained silent throughout the whole interview process resulting in frustration on Neil's side as he felt like he was talking to a brick wall.
"He's got no comment to make on all your questions," Jack informed Neil after a period of relative silence. He straighted his navy blue tie to the middle of his shirt before sorting out the cuffs on his pitch black blazer. Jack Bolton was a man who spent most of his working day in tracksuits, finding them comfortable enough to relax in and low profile for when needed. Troy was well aware that if his father was presented in a neat suit, it meant that he had some business to attend and Troy figured by the calmness and well paced voice, he'd already been to the meeting otherwise he would have sent a solictor to keep him company; Choosing the possible deal as a higher priority than his own son. "So?"
"So?"
"Is he free to go?" Jack Bolton inquired pushing himself up from the plastic chair and beckoning Troy to join him, in full knowledge that his teenage son could not be held for much longer without charge due to his lack of age.
"Yes," Neil responded quietly, disappointed that the whole process hadn't gone as well as planned and he know had to explain to his own superiors why arresting the son of a notorious mafia boss had originally been a good idea. Troy followed his father out of the room, relieved to escape it. He walked in his father's shadow keeping his head down unable to interpret his father's mood. After collecting his belongings, Jack directed both him and Sharpay who, had been impatiently waiting out front, into the waiting car climbing in afterwards. As soon as the door was slammed shut and the ignition turned, Jack Bolton turned to his unnerved son.
"Gabriella Montez?!" He sneered using his weight to back Troy into the corner. "Are you being fucking serious?!"
Troy remained quiet unsure whether his father wanted an answer or just to continue his tirade until he grew tired.
"She turned up unannounced," Sharpay informed her Godfather before the glare cast in her direction told her to stay quiet.
"How did she know where to go?!" Jack cried. He slapped Troy hard around the face and Sharpay quickly covered her mouth and closed her eyes, feeling frustrated she couldn't help him. Troy glanced up at his father nervously, his cheek reddening with each passing second. Jack ignored him settling back into his seat and amusing himself with his blackberry produced from his pocket. He showed no sign of outward anger existent in his calm body actions leaving Troy to be unsettled. The car soon pulled into the driveway, and the ignition was stopped by Steve. Both Troy and Sharpay followed Jack Bolton out, heading out towards the house ahead of him as Jack had stopped to discuss a topic with Steve.
"Sharpay," Jack started calmly causing both teenagers to stop and turn their heads. "Go home."
Sharpay frowned in response staying rooted where she was for the moment while Troy continued in, stopping by the mansion's front door.
"I..."
"Go spend some time with your father," Jack urged, Sharpay cast a sparing glance back to Troy who shrugged with little enthusiasm before climbing back down the steps to follow Jack Bolton's instructions and head home, down a block to her own house where apparently her father was back from business. Jack and Steve both passed her on route to the front door, consequently Troy was shoved inside and the door was slammed, concealing the foreseeable from the eyes of the judgemental world.
Gabriella was unable to see Troy for the next two weeks, if she had thought her mother was too controlling prior to her escape, then there was no word for what she had quickly become after. Her day consisted of going to school and coming back, there as no community centre anymore. Even though Gina Montez knew she would have benefited from Gabriella's assistance she wanted to ensure space between her daughter and her crush Troy Bolton was vast, despite Troy's relocation to another community centre the other side of New York for the completion of his community order. However, unknown to her parent Gabriella had tried to get in contact with Troy but, he was either avoiding her or too preoccupied in his life, a life in which she wasn't important. In reality Troy was aware of the consequences he would face if Jack Bolton found out he still had a line of communication with Gabriella and therefore hadn't responded to the frequenting texts or missed phone calls fearing not only his own safety but, that of Gabriella's. He was still marked from the last time he disobeyed Jack and it seemed that as time progressed he was forced to spend a growing amount of time in the company of the person who caused it.
"Troy!" Jack barked beckoning him over from the side of the room. Troy complied as the aching pains he suffered served as a remainder if he opposed. "This is your new home tutor Megan."
"Hi Troy," Megan grinned licking her lips as she stared at the perfect specimen before her. He was 7 years her junior but, Megan didn't spare that a second thought. Her mind too ravished with what she could inflict in the coming weeks and months on the teenager. She brushed her golden blonde hair to the side so, the length fell to her shoulders and allowed her eyes to wander up and down Troy's body not bothered by the fact she was making him uncomfortable, as he directed his eyeline to the floor. A short jab in the ribs courtesy of Jack and Troy finally responded.
"Hi..." He said quietly feeling sick to the core.
"He's all yours," Jack smirked patting Troy on the back, in what could have been considered a fatherly gesture which was ironic considering what he'd left Megan to do. He laughed to himself as he vacated the room and Troy was left in Megan's hands.