Unlove You
Disclaimer: See Prologue.
Chapter 24: First Date & Other Firsts
"That was a really great dinner, Troy. Thank you", Sharpay comments as they walk across the parking lot towards the Cottonwood Mall theaters. It's one of those huge sixteen screen theaters with stadium seating and a state-of-the-art sound system. It's a brisk early summer evening in Albuquerque, something for which the high desert is famous; Sharpay shivers as a cool breeze hits her and Troy wraps his arm protectively around her shoulders in order to share his warmth.
"Yeah, the food was pretty good, but it was the company that was exceptional", Troy tells her as he flashes her one of his earth-shattering smiles.
Sharpay is wearing metallic-gold capri leggings, and an bright red, a-line halter top with an empire waist that blouses over her tummy. The straps tie behind her neck and the plunging neckline takes full advantage of her increased bust size. Who says you can't be pregnant and sexy? She completes the outfit with casual black flip-flops. Mrs. Bolton spent forty-five minutes straightening and styling Sharpay's hair since it is nearly impossible for her to do it alone with the cast on her arm. Troy looks equally stunning in a simple pair of khaki shorts, a black t-shirt and brown leather sandals.
Normally on a Wednesday night, there would be no wait, but because of the opening of The Omen on the previous night, the place is much more crowded than usual. They walk up to the end of the line and prepare to snake their way through the queue area.
"So you're good with Just My Luck?", Troys asks.
"Sure, it sounds like fun --- much better than devil babies", Sharpay jokes in reference to the demonic plot of The Omen. "You know I haven't been to the movies since, like, January. I can't believe how much I missed this. But you know what the best part of going to the movie theater is, right?", she asks excitedly, "It's movie theater popcorn swimming in movie theater butter-like substance! All that salted, buttery goodness! Mmmm! I used to have to run ten miles to work off a tub of that stuff, but it was worth it." She lets out a contented sigh at the memory.
"So now...let me take a wild guess here...you want buttered popcorn tonight, right?"
"You must be psychic. But with bottled water to drink, please. No soda, it's not good for", and her voice drops to a whisper, "you know who."
"And sopping buttered popcorn is."
"Oh yes, definitely.", Sharpay says with a mischievous smile.
They walk inside the building and proceed to the snack counter after they buy their tickets at the outside kiosk. Troy orders a large tub of buttered popcorn, a bottled water and a Coke for himself. They find two fantastic seats in the back of the nearly deserted theater. Everyone must be watching The Omen. The lights drop down and Troy reaches over and entwines Sharpay's fingers in his. Sharpay's right arm is on the bottom and Troy is resting his left arm on Sharpay's cast. They position the popcorn tub between them just as the movie starts. After about an hour into the film, the popcorn is gone and Sharpay starts to look around for a napkin to wipe the butter off her fingers.
"Where's a napkin?", she whispers over to Troy.
"What?", he questions back.
"A napkin. I need a napkin to wipe off my fingers. They're covered in butter."
"Oh, I forgot them."
"Well, what do I do about my greasy fingers?"
Grinning wickedly, even though no one can see him in the darkened theater, Troy reaches over and grabs Sharpay's left hand.
"Hey, what are you...", the question dies on her lips when he takes her index finger into his mouth and starts to slowly suck and lick the butter off --- very,...very slowly. Sharpay's eyes are glued on Troy's lips as he works her finger in and out of his warm, wet mouth. He releases that finger with a pop and without hesitating, moves on to the next one. By the time he finishes his delicious task and all of her fingers have been licked clean, they are both breathing heavily and even in the dim light, Troy can see Sharpay's eyes are clouded over with lust.
Her mouth is open slightly and she suddenly realizes how dry her throat is. She swallows slowly, then nervously runs her tongue over her lips and moves closer to Troy. He meets her half way. Their lips are mere centimeters apart and their eyes are locked together in anticipation.
"Hey, guys! See Taylor, I told you it was them!", Chad says in a very loud whisper as he slides into the seat next to Troy. Taylor is being pulled along behind him and sits down on the other side of Chad.
Chad's voice hits Troy and Sharpay like a bucket of ice cold water and they immediately break apart. Troy turns slowly in his seat to face Chad with a scowl on his face.
"Hi...Chad", Troy says icily.
"Hey man, how you been?", Chad asks oblivious to the awkward situation in which he finds himself.
"Chad, maybe they want to be alone", suggests Taylor when she sees the look on Troy's face. She can't see Sharpay clearly. She's sunken herself back into her seat and has her arms crossed defensively over her chest.
"No way, Taylor. I mean, come on, she's living at their house. He sees her all the time. You don't see me hanging out with Ryan any more than I have to."
Taylor just rolls her eyes at her boyfriend's ignorance.
"Sssshh!", comes several voices from the surrounding patrons who are still trying to watch the movie.
"Hey, I have an idea. We're not really watching this movie. I don't even like Lindsay Lohan; I really wanted to see The Omen, but it was sold out, so let's get out of here. Go someplace fun. Watdaya think?", Chad suggests enthusiastically.
Sharpay just sighs and says in an irritated voice, "Fine...whatever. I'm going to the bathroom. I'll meet you...all of you, outside." With that, she stands and exits to her left and away from the group.
"Hey, wait up. I'll go with you", Taylor says as she tries to catch up with Sharpay.
Sharpay has already entered one of the stalls when Taylor reaches the restroom. Seeing her feet from under the door, Taylor chooses the stall next to her.
"Hey, I'm sorry about Chad. Sometimes, well, most of the time, he's just clueless, you know?", Taylor says to the wall partition. "Sharpay? You still there?"
"Yeah, I'm here", she replies flatly.
Taylor hears her leave and quickly hurries to catch up with her again.
Sharpay is standing at the sink washing her hands when Taylor finds her.
"Hi, again", Taylor tries again to engage her in conversation.
"Hi", Sharpay says and then turning to face Taylor, continues, "I'm sorry I overreacted. You just came in at an awkward moment, okay?"
Taylor is about to apologize again when she gets her first clear view of Sharpay. "Oh, my."
"Oh hell, just go ahead and say it, okay? I'm pregnant. I know I'm pregnant; I know I look pregnant, so just deal, okay?", Sharpay says angrily.
"What? No, I wasn't talking about that", Taylor is speaking very fast as she tries to deny to truth. "Well...maybe I was. It's just such a surprise seeing you like this and all. I haven't actually seen you in almost three months and well, you look really different. I'm sorry; God, this is so embarrassing." Taylor can feel the blush rise in her cheeks and burn its way up to her ears.
"It's okay; it's something I'm going to have to get used to", Sharpay says as she lovingly rubs her belly, "it's not like it's going to go away, you know?"
"I think you're very brave to do this. I mean...some girls would just get an abortion and move on with their lives."
"I could never do that", Sharpay says in a low, serious voice. "It's kind of funny, though...you admiring me...I thought you all hated me."
"No, I never hated you. I mean I think I can understand how you felt about the whole Twinkle Town thing. I'd probably do the same thing if you tried to take Gabriella's spot on the decathlon team."
"Ha ha; can you imagine me, a nerd on the brainiac team? Very funny."
"Hey, how about we talk the guys into taking us to Cinnabon's in the mall?", Taylor suggests with a smile.
"That sounds fantastic."
The girls leave together. Seconds later, a stall door opens slowly and a dark haired teenager walks out.
"Did you hear that? You were right. I can't believe it. I thought you made up all those rumors about Sharpay Evans, but she's pregnant", whispers the darker haired girl towards a still closed stall door.
A second door opens and out walks Melissa Fills, East High School's newest Varsity Cheerleading Captain. "I knew there was something going on when I saw her at the mall with her mom. I'm not as stupid as people think, you know. I read the society page; I know what Judith Evans looks like and that wasn't her. But now the question is, who's Daddy? I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I can't wait for school to start; this is going to be the best year ever."
"Yeah, but first you have to pass summer school or you're going to be left back and dropped from the team", the other girl says knowingly.
"Heather!", Melissa says lividly, "we said we're not going to talk about that, okay? Summer school doesn't start until next week, so lay off!"
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The guys are waiting for Sharpay and Taylor in the lobby of the ceniplex.
"Okay guys, here's the plan", Taylor starts, confidently, "you two are taking us to Cinnabon's in the mall, got it?"
"Um, sure", Chad says, "I'm okay with that. I juuust luv their Chillattas. Let's go."
Troy reaches for Sharpay's hand and starts to walk towards the mall exit of the theater that will take them directly into the mall.
"Wait a minute", Sharpay announces as she stops short. "Aren't you going to say anything?", she asks Chad.
"'Bout what?", Chad asks innocently.
"About this, you idiot", Sharpay says as she pulls her hand away from Troy and places both hands on her abdomen like she's holding a basketball. "Aren't you going to make some snide remark about how I look?"
"Nope, wasn't planning on it. Why? Would you like me to?"
"But this is your grand opportunity, Chad. It may never happen again", she says as she tries to incite him.
"Doesn't matter. Troy's my best friend and since you're my best friend's girl that sort of makes you my...best friend-in-law or something like that...It made more sense when I was thinking about it earlier", Chad explains with a vague look on his face.
"Oh", is the only response Sharpay can think to say. She reaches over and takes Troy's hand again and they continue on their way to Cinnabon's. Then, almost as an afterthought, she says to Chad, "Thanks for not making a big deal out of this and I'm sorry I did."
"No prob."
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Almost two hours later, Troy pulls to a stop on the street in front of his house. Sharpay looks over at him in confusion.
"Why did you stop here? I thought you always parked in the driveway."
"Just wait, you'll see", Troy replies mysteriously, "Oh, and don't move."
Troy hops out of his Toyota and runs around and opens Sharpay's door for her.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Nope. Remember I'm wooing you and I want to do it right, so I'm walking you to your front door after our first date."
Sharpay tries to stifle her giggles when she sees how serious Troy looks. He holds out his hand for her and helps her out of the car, then shuts the door behind her. They walk hand-in-hand up the walkway to the Bolton's front door. When they reach the porch, Troy turns to Sharpay.
"I had a really nice time. I hope we can do it again, sometime."
"Oh yes, I definitely enjoyed it, especially the popcorn", she says as her voice becomes husky.
Troy clears his throat, nervously, "You're not making this formal courting thing easy, you know."
"Oh, and who says it's supposed to be easy, Bolton."
"Now, I think I'm supposed to try and kiss you on the lips, but you only let me have a peck on the cheek and then..."
Before Troy realizes what's happening, Sharpay grabs him behind the neck and pulls him toward her and attacks him with a passionate kiss where she tries to rid herself of all the frustration she's been feeling since she saw him again Saturday night. Troy returns the kiss with equal fervor and starts to push her backwards in his enthusiasm. Before either of them realize it, her back hits the front door. The kiss continues, seemingly breaking all the rules of biology that insists people actually need oxygen to exist. Neither of them notice that Sharpay's back is accidentally and repeatedly hitting the doorbell.
Without warning, the front door is jerked open and an angry Jack Bolton starts yelling about how the doorbell must be stuck. His expression of anger immediately changes to shock when he realizes that Sharpay is falling backwards into the house. Jack quickly catches her and is forced to go down with her as he cushions her fall.
Troy has excellent reaction time and lets go of Sharpay so he doesn't fall with her. Jack lets out a loud "Ufff" when he hits the floor.
"Sharpay! Are you okay?", comes identical calls of concern from the two Bolton men as Troy helps Sharpay up, off his dad.
"I'm fine...just embarrassed", Sharpay says as she and Troy turn around and help Coach Bolton off the floor.
"Sorry about that, but the door bell must have been stuck. It just kept going off", Jack mumbles as he stands up.
It is at this point that Troy and Sharpay take a good look at Jack. He is wearing a black silk robe which has come open in the fall and attempted rescue from falling. Under the robe, he's wearing a bright red...oh my, is that a thong? Jack quickly cinches up the robe just as a voice comes floating down the hallway.
"Jaaack? Did you fix the bell? Hurry back and I won't make you wear that thing much longer", Lisa says with a decidedly husky lilt to her voice.
"Ummm, you're sure you're okay, Sharpay", Jack asks her quickly.
"Yes sir, I'm fine", Sharpay says to the floor. She's too embarrassed to look him in the eye.
"Okay, good. Well...I...um...need to...", he continues to stammer.
"Jaaackk?", Lisa calls again.
"Coming", he shouts back in her direction.
"That's what I'm hoping for."
Jack Bolton's face turns almost an identical shade of red as his thong as he beats a hasty retreat back down the hall.
"Let's ... um...", Troy says, indicating that they should go back out onto the porch.
"Good idea", Sharpay says as she sits down next to him on the top step. "Guess we got back too early, uh?"
"Oh, they're always like that", Troy comments casually, "You get used to it...sort of."
"It's a beautiful night", Sharpay sighs as she leans into Troy.
"Yeah, it is."
"How long do we need to stay out here?"
"Could be awhile. What do you want to do?", Troy asks her innocently.
"I'm sure we can think of something", Sharpay says as her left eyebrow lifts knowingly.
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The rest of the week passes quickly and Troy's relationship with Sharpay is proceeding at a slow, but steady pace. Despite their heavy make-out session on the porch Wednesday night, they haven't stepped it up to the next level yet. That's the level that got them in this situation in the first place. Troy's only slightly frustrated by it all. He's trying to understand her point of view; but after all, he is a normal teenage guy with normal teenage hormones.
Troy's eyes pop open suddenly as his alarm clock blares out some obnoxious music to wake him. It's Monday morning and he's never liked Monday morning and today is the first day of summer school, so that makes it even more unpleasant. "Ug", he moans as he reaches over to turn off the noise. And just when it got to the good part, he thinks to himself. His dreams always get interrupted at the worst moment possible. Remembering what was happening between him and Sharpay in that dream, Troy lifts up the sheets and feels down... Good, no embarrassing nocturnal messes to try and clean up without Mom finding out.
He stumbles out of bed and across the hall to the bathroom...which is locked. "Ug", he moans again. Within seconds though, Sharpay opens the door and looks up at Troy in surprise.
"What are you doing up so early?", she asks.
"I have summer school, remember?", he grumbles, "Question is, why are you up?"
She pats her tummy as she says, "Bladder...baby...'nough said."
"Oh, are you going back to bed?"
"No, I might as well stay up now that you're up. I'll eat breakfast with you; you know how I enjoy watching you drink coffee", she says with a sigh. Sharpay never realized how much she loved coffee until she wasn't allowed to have any. Oh, she could drink decaf, of course, but what's the point of that. So now she just has to be satisfied with drinking that wonderful dark liquid, vicariously.
Troy enters the kitchen fifteen minutes later to find Sharpay sitting at the table eating pineapple chunks.
"What's with all the pineapple lately? Is it those cravings people talk about so much?", Troy asks as he sits down with his cup of coffee.
"No, I read that it's supposed to help with the heartburn, but it's not working", Sharpay says in disgust as she reaches over to grab Troy's coffee cup. This is their normal routine, so he just sits back and waits as she lovingly cradles the cup in her hands and brings it up to her nose to inhale that wonderful aroma. When she finishes, Sharpay puts the cup down and pushes it back towards Troy.
"Hmmm, that's better. Coffee helps everything", Sharpay murmurs as she smiles.
"You are so weird sometimes", Troy jokes.
"Hey, shut up! I'm allowed to be as weird as I want."
"Did you read that somewhere, too?", he quips back.
"Nope, your mom told me so."
"Well, she is the queen."
"Absolutely. So you're in school 'til noon, right?", Troy nods dejectedly and she continues, "What are you doing after that?"
"I come home for lunch and homework", he grumbles out the word, homework, "Then, I have to be at work at three o'clock. I don't get off 'til eleven. I'm sorry. I was hoping we'd have more time together."
"It's okay. Maybe I'll help you with your homework, yeah?"
"Very funny. Hey, I'd better get going; I don't want to be late my first day."
"Hey, wait", Sharpay says as she stands up and come around the table to where Troy is standing. "Well, it's kind of like you're going off to work and I'm the stay-at-home mom, so I thought a goodbye kiss might be appropriate." As she finishes, she stands up on her tip toes and gives him a tender kiss on the lips.
"Wow, maybe summer school won't be so bad after all."
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Troy has to drive across town to West High School for summer school because that's the only school offering both of the classes he needs. Algebra II is from eight o'clock to nine forty-five and English Literature is from ten o'clock to twelve noon. He arrives to the math class fifteen minutes early. Just early enough to get the seat he prefers --- one, way in the back of the room --- nice and anonymous. After he gets settled into his seat, Troy takes a look around the room at a few of the early arrivals --- trying to find someone he knows. Oh, shit!, he thinks as he finally sees someone he recognizes. He quickly opens the math book and tries to hide behind it, but it's too late.
"Troy!", comes an excited, shrill voice, "I can't believe you're in this class, too!"
Troy reluctantly looks above the book and tries not to cringe when he speaks. "Oh hi, Melissa", he says in a monotone voice. A voice that anyone would immediately interpret as "I don't really want to talk to you and please leave me alone." She doesn't get it.
Melissa Fills sits down in the seat in front of Troy and turns around to talk to him. "This is so exciting! I mean I was really dreading summer school; but with you here, it'll be sweet!"
"Uh huh", Troy nods vaguely as he desperately looks around the class for anything or anyone that could save him from the onslaught of the peppy, overly happy, cheerleader.
When Troy was in ninth grade, he actually had a short-lived crush on Melissa Fills. There is no doubt that she is cute in a ditsy, fake blond sort of way. When he finally worked up his nerve to ask her to a school dance, she turned him down. However, she didn't just turn him down, she made it clear that he was just a no-named freshman and she had her sights set higher. Troy's feelings were hurt, but it taught him a valuable lesson about being attracted to someone only because of their looks. Melissa didn't talk to him again until last year when the basketball team started winning games and it became clear that they had a shot at the playoffs. Suddenly, he couldn't seem to get rid of her and since she was a cheerleader, he saw a lot of her. Melissa started sitting next to him on the bus for the away games; sitting next to him at lunch; sitting next to him in chemistry lab. Everywhere he went, she was there. And now she's here. "Ug."
Luckily, just as she's about to open her mouth again, the teacher comes in and class starts.
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After lunch with Sharpay, Troy opens up his Algebra book to start his homework.
"I just don't get this, Sharpay", Troy laments, "I mean my parents think I was distracted by everything that was going on..."
"You mean me", Sharpay interrupts as she sits down next to him at the kitchen table. They've just finished eating lunch and Sharpay is thrilled to have some company during the day.
"Well yeah, I guess so", he acknowledges, sheepishly, "but they're wrong. I don't think I would have passed anyway. I just don't get this stuff."
"Well, let's take a look at it. You know, when I was in Colorado, I actually enjoyed math. And that has never happened before, trust me", she says with a smile. "I really felt like something clicked --- like I have a knack for it or something."
"Sure, it can't hurt, right?", Troy says as they start to pour over the problems.
An hour and a half later, Troy lets out a sigh of relief.
"Wow, that's amazing. You make it seem so easy and you explain it a lot better than my teacher."
"Well, that's because I like it. Don't tell anyone this", Sharpay says as she lowers her voice into a conspiratorial whisper, "I just love factoring polynomials."
"Your secret's safe with me. Hey, I've got to get going or I'll be late", Troy says as he rises and starts to put his books away. "You know if you're bored, maybe you could tutor math. I mean, you're really good at this."
"Me? Teach math to someone else? I don't think so."
"Why not? You've helped me already and I bet you could pick up some extra money that way, too."
"Well, I'll think about it, but I don't even know where I could find anyone who needs help."
"Let's see if Mom or Dad know anyone. I'll see you later, okay?", Troy says as he gives her a sweet peck on the lips.
"Bye."
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They continue the informal tutoring sessions at lunch and Troy is able to keep up with his English Literature work during his lunch break at work. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton have started putting feelers out to find students who need help in mathematics, but they haven't heard anything yet.
It's Thursday and Troy and Sharpay are sitting in the obstetrician's office waiting to be called back for her monthly appointment. It's the first doctor's visit she's had since coming back to Albuquerque. She notices that he appears a little nervous and so she tries to lighten the mood.
"Don't worry, Troy. I'm the one with the appointment, not you."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I was being so obvious. It's just...I feel really out-of-place in here."
The waiting room is full of expectant mothers and younger children and in some cases, newborns.
"To tell the truth, I feel kind of out-of-place here, too. We'll just be out-of-place together", she reassures him as she takes his hand.
"Sharpay Evans", comes the nurse's announcement.
"That's us."
After taking the standard vital signs: weight and blood pressure, the technician takes them back to the examining room. The doctor comes in minutes later. She is a thin, petite woman in her mid-forties. Dr. Baker introduces herself to Troy and Sharpay and makes a comment that turns Troy's stomach. "Yes, I'm very popular here for deliveries, more so than my male counterparts." At Troy and Sharpay's confusion, she explains, "See I have extremely small hands. Trust me, you'll appreciate it later." Troy pales at that explanation.
She starts out the examine by measuring Sharpay's stomach with a measuring tape as if she's fitting her for new clothes. She explains to Troy that the measurement from Sharpay's pubic bone to the top of the uterus should be approximately equal to the number of weeks pregnant she is. She measures twenty centimeters which is right on track.
"Now, let's hear this little one's heartbeat, shall we?", Dr. Baker comments as she pulls out a strange wand which is attached via a cord to a speaker. She rubs it along Sharpay's stomach and stops with a smile.
"Here we are. Take a listen", she says as she turns up the volume on the speaker.
Sharpay's face lights up as she recognizes the swish-swish sound that she heard at her last check-up. Troy has a puzzled look on his face. It just sounds like ocean waves to him. Then, he realizes there's a pattern to the rolling wave sounds. His mouth opens unconsciously and he gets the same awed expression on his face as Sharpay.
"155 beats per minute which is also right on track", the doctor says as she starts to put her equipment away, "Now Sharpay, you have your ultrasound set up for one hour from now which should give you time enough to drink the required amount of water. I know it's uncomfortable, but please try to refrain from urinating. The baby will be much easier to see if your bladder is full."
"I'll try."
"Good, just report to the ultrasound department in one hour then. I'll see the ultrasound tomorrow, but I'll only contact you if there are concerns; otherwise, I'll see you next month for your twenty-four week appointment."
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Over an hour and a half later, a very uncomfortable looking Sharpay is lying back in an reclined, padded chair waiting for the ultrasound technician.
"Stop that!", Sharpay chastises Troy as he is seemingly fiddling with every possible instrument and dial in the room. "Stop touching things!"
"I'm just bored", whines Troy.
They've been waiting in this room for over thirty minutes.
"Well, how do you think I feel? I was about to bust when we got here forty-five minutes ago."
"Sorry", he says sheepishly as he gives her a sad puppy face.
Suddenly, the technician enters the room. She's a kind looking older Hispanic woman wearing a white lab coat.
"Before we get started, I need to ask you an important question. At twenty weeks gestation, it is entirely possible that we'll be able to see the sex of the baby. So, do you want to know?"
"No!", Sharpay says.
"Yes!", Troy says at the same time.
They turn and look at each other in surprise. They never thought to discuss this before.
"I want to be surprised", explains Sharpay.
"I want to know", says Troy, "I've have enough surprises lately."
"I really want to wait", Sharpay counters.
"Well", starts the technician, "when I identify the pertinent parts, you", indicating Sharpay, "may choose to not look, and we won't say anything aloud. Would that be acceptable?"
Sharpay looks at Troy. "You promise not to tell me, right?"
"Cross my heart..."
"Okay, I'll do that."
And they get started. Sharpay raises her blouse and slightly lowers her pants down at the technician's instruction. She squirts some clear gel out of a plastic bottle directly onto Sharpay's stomach and rubs it around.
"Ohh!", Sharpay yelps.
"Sorry 'bout that. I should have warned you. That probably feels a little cold."
"Ya think", grumbles Sharpay.
"We're supposed to have a heater for the gel, but it's broken. Anyway, let's see what's going on?"
Five minutes later, Sharpay's in tears and Troy's a little choked up as they observe their baby on the monitor. It's a hazing gray figure on the screen, but it's undoubtedly a baby.
"Ah, look at that", the technician comments, "That baby's sucking it's thumb."
They both lean in to search for the elusive thumb sucking. After a few seconds of trying to orient themselves, they see it. The baby is definitely sucking its thumb. Troy reaches up and wipes away a tear from his face. The technician spends the next few minutes taking measurements and printing pictures for them to take home.
"Okay now, Mom needs to look away because we're going to start searching for those naughty bits, right?"
Sharpay turns her head and closes her eyes, just to be safe. The technician continues to push and prod the wand across her abdomen; a little too firmly for Sharpay's taste. After several minutes of silence, the woman finally says, "There you go. This little one was being a bit shy."
"But I don't see...", Sharpay hears Troy say and then he takes a deep inhale of breath, "Is that what I think it is?"
"Depends...What do you think it is?", asks the technician cryptically. "Here, is this it?", she says as Sharpay hears scribbling that she assumes is the technician writing on paper. Then, rustling as she gives the paper to Troy.
"Yeah", Troy says in awe, "Wow, that's amazing."
"It sure is. I've been working here for fifteen years and it all still amazes me everyday."
"Hello!", announces an irritated Sharpay, "Are you finished yet? Uncomfortable pregnant woman here; who really, really needs to go potty."
"Oh, sorry dear. Yes, we're through. You can look now and I'll just clean up this mess", the older woman says as she uses tissues to wipe off Sharpay's belly. "The restroom is the first door on the right. I'll just give Dad, here, the photos."
Sharpay bolts out of the room.
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Jack is helping Lisa prepare dinner when they both stop and look towards the kitchen door. They have similar looks of confusion on their faces as they turn toward the sound of Sharpay ranting at Troy in an extremely angry voice.
"I can't believe you! You promised! You promised you wouldn't tell me", Sharpay yells at Troy as they both enter the house.
"What did I say?", Troy asks innocently.
"What did I say?", Sharpay repeats sarcastically, "Don't you play all innocent with me Troy Bolton; you know exactly what you said."
"Um, kids?", Lisa interrupts, "What's going on? Did the appointment not go well?"
"There's nothing wrong with the baby, is there?", Jacks asks with sincerity.
"What? Oh no, everything's fine. Sharpay's just overreacting", explains Troy.
"Overreacting?! You broke your promise, not one hour after you made it, you jerk!"
"Would someone please explain what's going on?", Lisa asks.
"Sure, Mom. Well, you know she had her ultrasound today and I wanted to know the sex of the baby."
"And I didn't", Sharpay puts in.
"So the technician only showed me."
"And he promised not to tell me", Sharpay is getting so frustrated with this conversation that she's starting to choke up a bit.
"And I didn't", insists Troy.
"Yes, you did, you jerk!"
"What happened?", Jack asks blandly.
"Okay, we're coming back from the hospital and I'm looking at the pictures and we're listening to the radio and on comes the song My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne."
"Oh yeah, I like her songs; she's sweet", comments Jack.
The other three people in the room turn to look at Jack Bolton, incredulously.
"What? I work at a high school, you know? I have to keep up", Jack says in his defense.
"Anyway...", Lisa says exasperatedly, "please continue...you were listening to April La...something."
"Avril Lavigne", the other three say simultaneously.
"Right, well that's about all, Mom. We were just listening to the song. Then, she just starts yelling at me for no reason. That's it", Troy finishes.
"No, that's not it. Tell them what you said!", Sharpay insists.
"I don't know what I said! I don't understand what I did wrong!", Troy yells back at her.
"You said, and I quote, 'Avril,... you know I never thought about it before, but that's a nice name'", Sharpay says, doing to fairly decent imitation of Troy.
"So?...", Troy starts and then he realizes exactly what he said and why, "Oooooh, oh no, Sharpay, I'm sooooo sorry. I really did not realize what I was saying. It was subconscious; I swear. You've got to believe me. I guess I was just thinking about her and wasn't paying..."
"Aaaaah, you did it again! You said her!", Sharpay screams as she starts to walk away. "And just to set the record straight, I AM NOT NAMING MY DAUGHTER, AVRIL!!!" With that, she stomps out of the room and seconds later they hear her door slam.
There's an awkward silence in the room.
Lisa breaks it by saying with a big grin on her face, "So we're having a granddaughter, I take it."
"Uggg", Troy mutters as he starts to follow Sharpay.
Jack grabs his arm and stops him.
"Don't do it, son. Let her cool off, first. She's very emotional right now."
"Okay Dad, maybe you're right."
TBC
I sure hope everyone likes this chapter because I had a lot of fun writing it. So please review.
A/N 1: Start date: Wednesday, June 7, 2006. End date: Thursday, June 15, 2006. Woo hoo, I managed to advance it a whole week in one chapter. Go, me!
A/N 2: About Taylor blushing...yes, African Americans and other 'people of color' do blush. You just can't see it, but the person doing the blushing can feel it. Pretty insightful, uh?
A/N 3: Couldn't resist the not-so-subtle hints at the Bolton's very healthy physical relationship. And at least, somebody gets some in this frustrating chapter.