Chapter 14 – Six Months
Gabriella sat in the bathroom, and stared at the letter which sat in her lap. It had first been sent to her home address, then immediately been forwarded on to Taylor's, who had awkwardly left the letter in Gabriella's locker without a word to her. It was news around the school that she was dating Chad now, and though that took the gossip off of her, it still didn't make her want to speak to Taylor anymore. Slowly opening the letter, Gabriella's eyes drifted to the insignia in the corner of the letter. The Baby Steps Housing Project. Her eyes ran down the page, and she let out a heavy sigh of defeat as she read what the letter had to say.
Dear Miss Montez,
Due to a recent change in our admittance procedures and policies, we regret to inform you that we will not be able to find you accommodation until your baby is born. Please let us know when this has happened so that we can begin to find you suitable accommodation. We apologise fully, and wish you luck.
"Hurry up! Some of us need to pee you know!" Shouted an angry voice, banging loudly on the bathroom door. Gabriella sighed. Sharpay. Despite living in the same house, Sharpay was as hostile as ever to her. Mr and Mrs Evans went out of their way to make sure Gabriella felt welcomed, furnishing her room, and had even begun on a nursery in an attempt to encourage Gabriella to stay. But Sharpay now ate her meals in her room as she couldn't stand to be near Gabriella. As she heard Sharpay banging on the door again, she quietly opened the door.
"All yours." Gabriella muttered, going down the hallway to Ryan's room. He looked up as she entered, and instantly made room so she could sit down on the bed.
"Well?" He asked, motioning to the letter. She shook her head, rubbing her stomach.
"They can't get me housing until it's born." She explained, looking down at her heavily protruding stomach. Ryan reached out and touched her stomach too.
"You can stay here, you know my family love you."
"Sharpay makes everything ten times harder than it needs to be." Gabriella teared up. As if to respond to it's mothers depleting mood, the baby sent a hard kick to Gabriella, which made her smile. "Hey honey, mommy loves you very much."
"Hey don't forget daddy too." Laughed Ryan, holding his hand to her stomach until he felt another kick, which made him smile. "Well, someones awake."
"Sadly, they'll remain awake until I have to get up for class." Explained Gabriella. "Speaking of which, I should start on my homework." Carefully, she pulled herself up from the bed, rubbing the small of her back which hurt a little, and went into her own room.
Taylor had finished all her homework as soon as she got home to go on a date with Chad. Even though they had been together for a few months now, this was their first official date. Chad had tried to get reservations at an upscale restaurant in Albuquerque to celebrate their three month anniversary, but when that hadn't worked, he had taken her to a family restaurant. While Chad was in the restroom, Taylor looked around to see who else was dining. There were a few couples dotted around, some older parents celebrating their son getting accepted into the college of his choice, and an elderly couple whispering to each other in the corner. Then Taylor spotted a woman sitting nearby her table. She didn't look much older than Taylor, and Taylor was sure she had been a senior the year before. Her meal was in front of her getting cold, as she rummaged through a baby bag for something, while her baby wriggled uncomfortably in it's highchair. As the baby started crying, a few patrons looked over at the young mother in disgust, but Taylor's heart sank, and before she could stop herself, she went over.
"Hey, need any help?" She asked.
"...Really? Thanks." Smiled the girl, gratefully. "I know I packed his bottle in here somewhere..." She muttered. Taylor carefully lifted the baby out of the high chair, and held him close.
"Hey sweetheart, aren't you a cutie?" She cooed, and the baby looked at her, puzzled.
"A cutie maybe, but a handful." Explained the girl, zipping up the bag as she retrieved the bottle. Taylor carefully handed him to his mom, who placed the bottle between his lips.
"You look familiar...You went to East High last year, didn't you?" Asked Taylor. The girl nodded. "That's cool. So what are you doing now? At college?" The girl's eyes lowered.
"I wish. Taking care of him is a full-time job, I don't have time for anything else." She sighed.
"But...What about his dad?"
"His dad didn't want to know us. He couldn't wait to leave for college, just to get away from me. He just about remembers to pay child support, not that it helps." Taylor's eyes looked at the baby, then back at the girl. This could be Gabriella in three months time, and Taylor wasn't there to help her.
"...Hang in there. I'm sure things'll get better." Said Taylor, muttering the only thing she could think to say, before sitting down where Chad had been waiting.
"Hope you weren't getting broody, there's no way you're gonna be another Gabriella." Teased Chad, tucking into his meal.
"No of course not, no way I want kids for a good decade or so." Said Taylor. "You know, that girl was a senior last year. Did you hear anything about her being pregnant?"
"No...And before you say it, the only reason Gabriella was talked about is because she doesn't know the dad."
"Yeah, but--" Taylor began to stand up for her former friend, but Chad interrupted her.
"Can we just have a...Gabriella-free meal? We're supposed to be celebrating our anniversary. It's my personal relationship record." Taylor laughed.
"I feel honored. You're probably my first boyfriend since in kindergarten when I told Troy he could only borrow my Blue's Clues blanket if he said he was my boyfriend."
"I was totally jealous of him then." Winked Chad, and they continued eating.
Troy sat in the park, looking at all the couples strolling around hand in hand. It made him feel sick. Reaching around to his side, he lifted the bottle of vodka up to his lips, and took a long swig. Normally he was drinking to forget, but today it was to celebrate. His mother had gone to the courthouse today to finalise the divorce, and in exactly 90 days, the divorce would be official. As was expected in such a strong case, his mom got everything-- the house, most of the money in the joint account, and most importantly, peace of mind. She never had to see Jack Bolton as long as she lived, and she had taken to changing her surname back to her maiden name, Grant. Troy took another long swig. Good riddance in his opinion. Now all Troy needed was for school to finish and Gabriella to disappear, and everything would finally be in the past. Yet another long swig, and Troy began to really feel the effects of the alcohol. He stumbled to a standing up position, and staggered his way back home. Throwing the door open, he yelled;
"The wonder boy returns!" Lucille looked into the hallway, and shook her head.
"Troy, this has to stop." She snapped, taking away the nearly empty bottle of vodka, and leading her son into the lounge.
"No no you don't understand, I'm celebrating! He's finally gone!" Laughed Troy, reaching drunkly for the bottle, but completely missing.
"No Troy, I don't care why you're drinking, the fact is you are, and you need to stop." She said calmly. "Honey, drink isn't the way to solve this.."
"Whatever. Going to bed..." Muttered Troy, pushing away his mom and heading upstairs. The second he reached his bedroom, he passed out on the floor with a thump.
Despite the raging hangover in his head, Troy got up and left for school before his mom could talk to him about his drinking. It was one thing to be hungover, but it was another to be hungover and getting a lecture. Leaning against his locker, he held onto his head.
"Woah, rough night dude?" Laughed Chad, coming over, his arm around Taylor's shoulders.
"Tell me about it. But my mom got the divorced finalised." He muttered, nodding a hello to Taylor.
"That's great, Troy. I bet your moms relieved it's over with." Said Taylor.
"She'd be more relieved if my ex girlfriend hadn't caused the divorce in the first place." He said, looking over as Ryan and Gabriella headed to his locker, her maternity dress proudly showing off her bump. Chad looked over to where Troy was looking, and sneered.
"Hey don't worry about it, it's her life screwed up, you can move on from this, right Tay?"
"Yeah...right..." Muttered Taylor, watching Gabriella walk past. She couldn't help but look at her, and think of the girl she had seen in the restaurant the night before. Shaking her head, she quickly kissed Chad. "Come on, we're going to be late for class. Troy, you coming?"
"I'm waiting here for Sharpay, we'll see you guys in there." He said. Sharpay had settled down a little over the past few months, but she still had a tendency of being a little high maintenance. Seconds later, the doors burst open and in came Sharpay, coming straight over to kiss Troy.
"Ugh your breath stinks sweetie." She commented, offering him some mints. Gratefully, he took one.
"You been okay?" He asked, as they walked to class.
"No! Gabriella is stuck at my house until the spawn of satan is born..." She muttered. "She didn't get her house or something, fascinating. Enough about them, I missed you."
"Missed you too." He said, as they were walking past the bulletin board. He stopped, and saw the notice announcing the theme for the prom in two months time, saying that tickets were on sale already. He turned to face Sharpay. "Hey, I've got something to ask you."
"What is it, Troy?" She asked innocently, having already seen the notice about prom, as she was on the prom decorating committee.
"How's about me and you go to the prom together? Only right that the prom king and queen arrive together." He teased, hugging her. He had chose his moment perfectly. Gabriella was just coming out of the classroom to go to the bathroom. When she saw them, she momentarily paused.
"Oh Troy, really? You want to go to the prom with me?" Sharpay gushed. "I'd love to! We're going to be so perfect!" Gabriella quickly looked at Troy, with hurt in her eyes, and carried onto the bathroom. Troy smiled to himself.
By lunchtime, everyone was talking about prom, and Chad was buying his time. He knew that he had to think of a way to ask Taylor out, even though they'd inevitably go together since they were dating. He knew Taylor wouldn't simply accept that they were going together, but he needed to ask her to pull her out of her miserable mood which had started at dinner that night.
"Love you." He whispered in her ear, kissing it. They were sitting at their normal lunch table, but Taylor was looking over sadly at where Ryan and Gabriella sat underneath a tree outside.
"Mmm...Love you too." She muttered, tearing her eyes away for a second. "Honey, can't you try and make up with Gabriella?"
"Why should I?" Said Chad, annoyed at this subject being brought up again. "She's completely ignored you for the past three months. I don't care how much you wanna blame it on hormones or whatever, she's in no way a friend to you."
"But she'll need people around. When the babies born, she's gonna freak out with how much she has to do..."
"And who'll be there for Troy when he freaks out about it being born? It's not his, but it could be his dad's, and Troys barely coping with the divorce. I swear I smelt alcohol on his breath earlier.."
"But Chad, I just think--"
"You're totally ruining the mood for me asking you to prom, baby." He grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist. Taylor rested her head on his chest, and breathed in his scent.
"Hmm, I don't know. Maybe some other muscular basketball player wants to take me."
"I'll beat on anyone but me who wants to take you to prom." He teased, kissing her ear again, before whispering. "And who knows what might happen if we get a hotel suite for afterwards...Celebrate the six month anniversary." Taylor thought for a long while. It was cliché,but her and Chad had agreed already that they would both only have sex when they were ready, and the more she thought about it, the more Taylor couldn't think of a better time than after her prom.
"Count me in. You'd better get me a nice corsage." She grinned, leaning in to kiss him.
Gabriella rested her head against the trunk of the tree. She was exhausted, as the baby had kept her awake kicking her all night, and the pregnancy was just making her feel run down in general.
"Apparently you're supposed to enjoy your second trimester. I haven't." She muttered, not having the appetite to finish her lunch. "...Troy invited Sharpay to prom." She added, and Ryan nodded.
"So I heard." He said, putting his lunch down too to look at her. "Does that...bother you?"
"They're dating, why wouldn't they go together. It makes sense. At least she gets to go." Shrugged Gabriella.
"Well...I was thinking that...maybe we could go. You know, just as friends."
"I don't know...I'll be busy around then, finishing my finals early and stuff...I really should be trying to take it easy by then, I'll have a few weeks to go..."
"It's one night, and I'll keep an eye on you, I promise." Said Ryan. "I just...don't want you regretting not going to your own prom." Gabriella nodded.
"Alright then, I'll go with you." She giggled. "Now to look for a maternity prom dress..."
"Oh please, you didn't invite her, did you?" Snapped Sharpay, coming over. "She is NOT coming in our limo, she pretty much needs a whole limo just for her stomach.
"Sharpay, just shut the hell--"
"No Ryan, it's fine." Said Gabriella, hauling herself up. "I've got some studying to do in the library anyway." She gave Sharpay a gentle glare, before waddling off as fast as she could manage. Ryan shook his head at Sharpay.
"Just leave her alone! This baby is part of our family how can you hate it so much!"
"She's using you Ryan, you're an idiot! She's using you, mom, dad...I can't believe you're all so stupid!"
"I can't believe you're so bitter! This is my baby, your niece or nephew! You're supposed to be thrilled for me, Sharpay! I thought you always wanted to be the cool aunt, the one that all your kids and nieces and nephews adored!"
"...But not now." Said Sharpay, quietly to herself. She had always imagined she would be the first of the twins to have a baby, and she was scared about what the addition of a baby would do to him. "Just keep away from me Ryan.."
"No, what do you mean."
"Ryan, please..." Begged Sharpay, letting down her guard ever so slightly to let a tear trickle down her cheek.
"No!" Ryan grabbed hold of her arm. "I want you to tell me once and for all why you hate Gabriella and the baby so much!"
"Because they're going to take you away from me." She sniffed. "Then I won't have my twin anymore...I'll just be Sharpay..." Ryan was shocked at Sharpay's sudden display of emotion. This was the first time he'd seen her cry for real in a long time.
"...You think I'll stop caring about you? Sharpay, me and Gabriella will need you more than ever when it's born. And she could really do with a girl to talk to. There's only so much I can do..."
"But, what about Troy--"
"You can date him, no-ones saying you can't. But that doesn't mean you have to hate Gabriella. Please, just try and help her out...for me." Sharpay sobbed, and nodded.
"...Alright. You're right. I'm sorry." She said, rubbing her eyes. "Can you...tell her that? And...tell her me and her'll have a pamper evening when she gets home, okay?" Ryan smiled, and hugged his sister tightly.
"I'll definitely tell her that."
AN: Okay, so I know Sharpay's sudden change of heart is very, very sudden, but I couldn't find a way for it to happen any other way. Anyway, the next chapter will probably be the last, but I'm not promising anything. But I'm 99% sure it will be, lol, but a sequel is in the early stages already, so don't worry! I love reviews btw ;) xx