Chapter 25 –
Troy came up behind her, he knew what she was thinking of doing. He put his hands on her shoulders as if to say she's not worth it.
Sabine had a superior smirk on her face until she looked at Sharpay's clenched hands and saw the ring. Her expression quickly changed.
Eyes narrowed, she whipped around and angrily struck Troy in the face. He stood there and took it without flinching. "How dare you! You leave me for a child! A little girl that you can mould into whatever you like!" she glared at him. "I will never forget this." She swung open the door. "You'll pay!" she glared at Sharpay. "Especially you, you little whore!" She stormed out the door slamming it hard enough to rock the vase of pink and white roses on a table nearby.
Troy exhaled, shut the door and sat down next to Sharpay. "I'm sorry about that chère. She just will not leave me alone." He attempted to put his arm around her. "Maybe she has gotten the message now." He toyed with the ring on her finger.
Sharpay moved away so that she could look at him. "Is that why you like me? Because I'm young and naïve?"
Troy gently placed his hands on either side of her face. " Sharpay, you know that's not true. I love you for you. You're intelligent, funny, and beautiful. You've brought a light into my world that I have never known or never knew I needed." He reached over and picked a rose out of vase sitting on the table. "If this rose was not to have any sunlight what would happen? It would whither and die, non? It is like you and me. Without you I would surely shrivel up and die. With you I am able to enjoy life. Making you happy is as essential to me as breathing. I need you. You are my soul mate." He looked into her eyes. " Sharpay you do believe me don't you?"
Such beautiful words. Sharpay looked at him, looked into his eyes. She saw the love there. "Yes, I do." He kissed her. She pulled back. "But what about the other girls she talked about? Have you been out with many women?" It never occurred to her before that there were other women besides Sabine and herself.
Troy shook his head. "There were no other girls. I am not the type to go looking for casual relationships." Sharpay studied his face looking for any signs at all that he was lying. She saw none.
He would never lie to her. She nodded. "I can't see you doing that either." She sighed. They were very much alike. Sharpay could never imagine having a fling with anyone and she knew that he felt the same. "Do you think that she will do anything to me?"
Troy shook his head again. "She likes to threaten but never has she followed through. She has a temper but she wouldn't do anything like that. Sabine doesn't have it in her."Sharpay wasn't so sure though. She saw the look on her face. Sabine would have killed her right then and there if she could have.
Troy saw how tense Sharpay was and started to massage her shoulders. Sharpay needed some time to think. "Troy, I think I'll go and take a bath ok?" She shrugged him off, got up and without looking back, walked up the stairs. Troy's heart ached as he watched her go up the stairs. It was as if she erected a wall of ice around herself. In an instant his warm, loving Sharpay was replaced with a wintry, impenetrable figure. Damn Sabine! Because of her Sharpay was closing off again.
He had to do something before she closed off completely and he lost the best thing in his life. Troy got up and walked to the stairs then stopped and shook his head. She didn't need him to crowd her right now. Instead he walked to the living room and picked up the phone and started dialling.
Sharpay walked into the bathroom and turned the taps on. Slowly, she undressed and got in. Closing her eyes, she leaned back and listened to the water splash. Sharpay thought of all the things that had happened over the past week and then about what Sabine had said. No, everything that they had done and said this week was real. It had to be. Sharpay turned on the jets and let them pound some sensation into her numb limbs. No one can pretend happiness like that. The smiles and the kisses and the love were all real. She shook her head. Troy did love her and she loved him. To hell with Sabine.
Sharpay soaked for a little while longer and then decided to go back down to talk things through with Troy. She knew she couldn't do this to him. He was always up front with her and it was time that she learned to do that with him. She got out of the bath dried herself off and put on jeans and a T-shirt. Barefoot she headed down the stairs. She found Troy waiting for her at the bottom. She noticed that Troy's poise was gone, in its place were tension and apprehension
Sharpay was shocked by his haggard appearance. He had never looked like this. Her heart went out to him. Troy did love her as much as she loved him.
Anxiously, he looked at her. Troy's heart stopped when she simply stood there looking at him. Her face didn't betray any signs to what she was thinking. Even her eyes seemed guarded. Then slowly Troy noticed them change. Sharpay looked into his eyes and held out her hand. Troy let out the breath he was holding, smiled and took it.
" Sharpay." He held her to him and breathed in her scent. Relief coursed through his entire body.
She buried her face in his chest. "Troy, we can't let such a wonderful week end on a sour note."
"I agree." He rested his cheek on top of her head. "That is why I'm taking you back myself."
Sharpay smiled at him. "Really?"
"Oui, I cleared my schedule so I can take you home and then I have to return the next day and meet Neo in London."
Sharpay jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. "That's great! We'll get to spend a little more time together."
"I am glad that you still want to spend time with me." He took her hands and kissed them. Smiling he picked her up and carried her back upstairs. The next morning they woke up and packed up Sharpay 's things and a couple shirts and jeans for Troy. They stopped by Neo's room and said goodbye and then headed out to the limo.
The concierge rushed over and took Sharpay 's hand. "It was a pleasure having you here, Fraulein." He kissed it.
Sharpay smiled. "I had a very pleasant stay." But she wasn't going to tell him it wasn't because of the service. She looked at Troy and smiled. "Very unforgettable."
He grinned even wider. "We hope to see you again soon."
Troy took her hand and helped her into the limo and then got in himself.
The plane ride was uneventful, they sat and talked about what they would do when they got back to the university. Sharpay wanted to finally introduce him to her friends. Close to ten hours later they landed. They got in the first cab they saw and took it up to the university.
Sharpay led the way up to the suite. They were laughing when they walked in the door. Inside Taylor, Kelsi and Gabriella had already returned. It looked as though they were making coffee and getting ready to watch some TV.
All three looked over when the door opened. "Shar!" Happily they dropped everything and came over to give Sharpay a hug.
Taylor hugged Sharpay and then looked over at Troy. He was very attractive, the posters of him didn't do him any justice. "So this is the guy you've been keeping to yourself huh?" She smiled at him and extended her hand. She noted that Troy looked as happy as Sharpay did. Troy took it and kissed the back, he did the same for Kelsi and Gabriella.
"Troy, this is Taylor, Kelsi and Gabriella." Sharpay gestured at each girl as she said their name.
"Bonjour, everyone." Troy smiled warmly at them. He returned his attention to Sharpay and put his arm around her waist casually. "You are Sharpay 's roommates, non? She speaks of you all a lot." He was amused by their looks of admiration.
Kelsi smiled. Sharpay never looked happier or more relaxed. "You two look very happy."
Troy and Sharpay looked at each other and grinned widely. She felt like she had the words 'Sexually Satisfied' stamped on her forehead. Blushing, Sharpay ran her hand through her hair.
Gabriella watched her as she did. The light glinted off something in her hair. She looked at Sharpay 's hand and spotted the ring. Gasping she grabbed her hand and brought it to her face. "Oh my god! It's gorgeous!" The other two came over and looked at it as well. All commenting on how beautiful it was. "I gotta go show Ryan! Be right back!" Gabriella dashed out of the room and across the hall.
Sharpay looked at Troy. "Ryan is her boyfriend." He nodded and smiled.
Gabriella came back dragging Ryan with her. "Look!" She pointed at the ring. Ryan ignored her for the moment, focussing on Troy.
He stuck his hand out. "You must be Troy." They shook hands. "Take care of that one," he nodded at Sharpay. "She's quite a catch."
Troy smiled at Sharpay, "I know. I intend to."
Troy and Ryan sat down on the couch talking while Sharpay proceeded to show the girls what she got during her trip. She showed them pictures of the sights and they all ohhhed and ahhhhed.
Then she pulled out the necklace and they all took turns looking at it. Gabriella put it on and pranced around the room with it. Sharpay shook her head. She pulled out the teddy bear next. She left the negligee in the bag. Then showed them the key that still hung around her neck. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out the key chains, postcards, and miniatures of the sights that she got them.
"I didn't know what to get you so I got these." She passed them out.
Gabriella still hadn't taken off the necklace. "I want this." She admired her reflection in the mirror, toying with the sapphire. "I think it looks great on me."
Troy walked up behind her and took it off. "Sorry, this is Sharpay 's." Gabriella stared at his reflection, and shivered when his fingers touched her neck. That gorgeous guy was so close to her and just touched her neck. There was such a raw magnetism about him. She could imagine why Sharpay looked so happy. Gabriella grinned foolishly at him. Ryan looked at her and shook his head in amusement.
Sharpay tried not to laugh, but Gabriella's reaction to Troy was so funny that she let out a little giggle.
Troy, oblivious to the effect he had on Gabriella, brought it back to Sharpay who put it back in its case. "Chère, I need a shower can you..." he nodded down the hall. Sharpay knew what he wanted.
"I'll show you where the towels are." She got up and he followed. Handing him one of her own towels and pointed him in the direction of the bathroom. "This stuff is mine." Sharpay pointed at the clutter of shampoos and bodywashes that were hers and she left him to it.
"Merci, chère." He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek and disappeared behind the door.
Smiling, Sharpay returned to the living room.
"He's amazing!" Gabriella was babbling now. "His eyes, oh my God, that accent and his body! Wow!"
Sharpay shook her head in amusement.
Pushing Gabriella aside, Taylor pulled her over and sat her down on the couch. "So how was your vacation? What did you guys do?" She grinned as Sharpay blushed. "Like I need to ask. You're positively glowing! So what's he...you know...like?" The girls sat down around her looking for an answer.
Sharpay stared open mouthed at her. Not knowing what to say she looked at Kelsi to defend her.
Kelsi laughed at her helpless look, "Don't look at me! I'm curious too!"
"You guys!" Sharpay 's face went red.
"Must have been a great weekend. Look at this!" Gabriella was going through Sharpay 's bag and had pulled out the negligee.
"Gabs! You guys are terrible!" Sharpay tried to get it away from Gabriella but she ran away from her and after a short chase in the living room she passed it to Taylor.
"It's brand new!" Taylor fingered the lace. "Did he buy it for you?"
"Give it back!" Sharpay reached over and grabbed for it but unfortunately for her, Taylor stood up and held it over her head, well out of Sharpay 's reach.
Taylor giggled, "I'll take that as a yes. So you guys kept pretty busy then huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
Troy had finished showering and stood at the entrance to the living room and was listening to the conversation. He shook his head and decided to rescue Sharpay from her taunting friends. He walked in.
"Oui, we did." Smiling sexily, Troy walked up behind them completely naked except for the towel that hung low on his hips. All activity stopped dead as everyone stopped to look. He was still wet from his shower. Beads of water clung to his muscled chest. As he moved towards them, the beads slid down his stomach. While the girls stared at him slack jawed he took the negligee from Taylor's hand, "We will be needing that right now." He picked Sharpay up in his arms and carried her to her room. "I can't believe you just did that." He dumped Sharpay laughing on the bed.
"Your friends are funny." He grabbed the bag and started looking for something to wear. Troy quickly dried himself off and pulled on a white T-shirt and jeans.
"You honestly have no idea how good looking you are do you?" She watched his every movement mesmerized.
He shrugged, "Who cares as long as I look good to you?" He grabbed her and kissed her. "Now are you going to take a shower?" Sharpay nodded. "Ok I'll go out and talk to them." He patted her bum. "See you in a bit."
Sharpay took a hot shower and felt a lot better. She came out dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. She walked out into the living room and found Troy entertaining everyone with one of his stories. She stood in the entrance way and watched him, smiling happily. He looked up and saw her and smiled. He walked over and took her hand, pulling her over to where he was standing before.
Taylor smiled and looked at Sharpay. "I know you told us that he was interesting and funny, but we thought you were making it all up." She looked back at Troy and grinned. "We believe you now."
Troy, nuzzled her neck. "Chère, je suis très fatigué. I'm very tired." He translated for the rest of the group. "I must get some sleep." He winked and walked into Sharpay 's room.
Sharpay watched him walk down the hall and tried to figure out a way of joining him without making it obvious what they were going to be doing. She turned back to them and laughed at the looks the girls gave her. "What's the matter with you guys?"
Kelsi shook her head. "That guy's incredible! You are so lucky. He's good looking, smart, funny and from the way you look after spending a week with him, I'd say he's fantastic at EVERYTHING." Kelsi emphasized the word everything. "And he so obviously loves you." Kelsi looked at the dreamy look Sharpay had on her face. "Can I have him?"
Sharpay just smiled. "Nope sorry."
"Can we work out some sort of schedule so that we can share him? You know, you have him Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the weekend and we get him the rest of the time."
Sharpay laughed and shook her head. "You'll just have to find your own good looking, smart, funny, great at everything guy."
Kelsi pouted and then laughed.
"Can I look at the ring again?" Gabriella held Sharpay 's hand up to the light and stared at the sparkling stones. "Wow!" Sharpay's necklace caught her eye again. "You never did tell us what's up with that key." She arched a brow at Sharpay.
"Oh right, it's the key to his home in Paris."
The girls just groaned. "He gives you everything!"
Sharpay yawned. "Sorry guys but I gotta get some sleep." She got up and headed to her room.
"Yeah right!" The girls threw pillows at her as she walked away.
Sharpay opened the door and found Troy standing at her desk waiting for her. "So this is your room huh?" He spun around in a circle. "It's so small."
Sharpay laughed. "It's the biggest room in the suite, you should see the others."
He shook his head and looked in her closet, "You like shoes huh?" He pointed at the sea of shoes on the floor. "What is with women and shoes?" His attention went to the garment bag hanging in the closet. "Is this the dress you wore on Halloween?" Sharpay nodded. He opened it up and looked at it. "How about this? Do you want to go to the Carnevale for real? I've never been and I think it would be fun for us to explore."
"Yes! I've always wanted to go." She smiled at him. "Do you have time though?"
He nodded as he pulled out the mask and grimaced. "This mask is too sad for you though," he touched the teardrop. "We'll have to get you a new one."
She smiled. It was her old self. She definitely didn't feel like hiding herself behind a melancholy mask any more.
"I have a week vacation in February. We could go and have fun for a week."
"Great now all we have to do is find you a costume." Sharpay was already getting excited.
"You could be a dashing count or something like that." He was so dignified that she couldn't imagine him as anything else.
"Sharpay, chère." He smiled. "It is three months away. We won't have to worry about that for a while. But we are here now." He wiggled his eyebrows. "So what can we do in your tiny room?"
Sharpay laughed and hugged him as they tumbled onto the bed. A couple of hours later they emerged from the room contented and smiling. Everyone was in the kitchen. They turned to them and smiled knowing exactly what they had been up to.
"Hi guys." Chad, Jason and Zeke were in the kitchen, Sharpay gave each of them a hug.
"How were your vacations?"
"It was great! We hung out with the old gang and got food cooked for us and laundry done for us." Chad and Jason were grinning. "What more can you ask for?" They looked over at Troy. "You must be Troy." They shook hands with him. "We've heard a lot about you."
Zeke smiled at Troy and shook hands with him. "Hi there, hope you're taking care of her." He tried to punch Sharpay in the shoulder. Sharpay blocked it and hit him instead. Troy looked impressed. "She says that she doesn't need it, but she does." He teased.
Troy laughed. "Would you all like to join us for dinner?"
They all looked at each other. "Sure!" They all scrambled about as everyone started to get ready to go out. "It sure beats cooking ourselves." Troy and Sharpay sat at the table. She watched Troy as he watched everyone running about. He looked very amused.
"You all do this every time you go anywhere?" Sharpay nodded. "Bizarre."
"You think this is bad? You should have seen us on Halloween. It was a nightmare." Sharpay took his hand. "Come check this out." She led him to the bathroom and pointed at the girls trying to put makeup on all at the same time. They mock screamed and tried to hide their half made up faces from him. Troy shook his head and laughed.
Gabriella looked over her shoulder. "Is it going to be fancy?"
Sharpay and Troy looked at each other and nodded. "The fanciest!"
Gabriella panicked and ran into her room to find something suitable to wear. Sharpay shook her head. Sharpay and Troy went to her room and found something to wear. Sharpay settled on black slacks and an ivory silk blouse. Troy wore his jeans and a white dress shirt. After a smouldering kiss, they emerged once again from the room.
All the girls apart from Gabriella were ready, she was still adding a few finishing touches. Sharpay put a little lipstick on and was happy with the way that she looked. She looked at her smiling reflection. She did have a glow about her. Sharpay looked at Troy's reflection and smiled at him. After Gabriella finished up they headed across the hall.
Sharpay turned to Troy and whispered, "Hold your breath." then opened the door. In their room they still had cases and cases of beer cans and liquor bottles from Chad and Jason's little get togethers stacked in their closet and unwashed dishes piled in the sink. Troy's eyes widened. He now understood why she said to hold his breath. The boys gathered in the living room and did a mock runway type walk.
"Ready then?" Everyone nodded. They all walked down to the parking lot. The girls and Troy walked to Sharpay 's car.
Troy looked at it and nodded. "Cute car chère." Sharpay smiled. They all got in, Troy in the front and the three girls in the back.
She drove past Zeke's space and yelled, "Follow me!" then sped off. Zeke quickly caught up and followed close behind as Sharpay drove downtown. They parked in a parkade and walked around the corner to a theme restaurant called 'Niners'. The girls liked to come here when they were shopping and when they wanted to celebrate something. Inside was a fifties type motif.
They waited for about twenty minutes in the waiting area before they got a table. Sharpay was impressed at how Troy sat and waited with the rest of them. He certainly wasn't like other celebrities who demanded to be treated better than everyone else. Instead he was patient and even joked about to past the time. If it was possible, Sharpay fell for him even more.