Unlove You

Disclaimer: See Prologue.

Chapter 25: New Job

Troy is lying on his bed listening to his Boston CD, Third Stage, on his stereo. No one has heard from Sharpay since she slammed the door an hour later. He's trying to work on his homework, but is having trouble staying focused. Then, there comes a light tap on the door. Assuming it's his mom, Troy automatically reaches for the remote control to turn down the volume on the music and says, "Come in."

Sharpay pushes the door open slowly.

"Hi", she says in a small voice while standing timidly in the open doorway.

"Hi", Troy replies with a small amount of apprehension in his voice.

Troy closes his math book, sits up and moves to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Um, I've been thinking...a lot...and I realize, now, that you didn't tell me on purpose and I overreacted. I...I've been doing that a lot lately", she admits quietly as she fiddles with the hem on the bottom of her shirt.

"It's okay. I understand...or at least I'm trying to understand."

"Well good, because I don't understand it at all", Sharpay starts as she slowly enters the room.

Troy motions for her to join him on the bed. Long gone is the drama queen who strutted into high school like she owned it. This is the vulnerable, insecure Sharpay whose emotions are bouncing around inside her like one of Troy's basketballs. She slowly walks across the room and awkwardly perches on the bed next to Troy.

"What's wrong?", at her silence he adds, "You can talk to me, you know?"

"I'm so scared", Sharpay admits in a trembling voice. This is the first time she's admitted this to anyone other than Ryan. "I mean, we've totally screwed up our lives. What's going to happen to us? Is there even an us?"

She is starting to talk faster and is becoming more and more emotional, but Troy just sits quietly and lets her continue. He has a feeling that she really needs to vent all of these feelings. "I'm going have a baby, Troy. A baby! A brand new person who I'm responsible for. Some days I don't want to be responsible for myself." By now, tears are streaming down her cheeks and it's a little difficult for Troy to understand exactly what's she saying, but he gets the gist of it.

"Sssh. It's okay. I'm scared too, but we're in this together, okay? And yes, there is an us. At least, I...I want there to be an us", Troy reaches over to take her hand in hers.

"I don't understand what's happening to me. One minute I'm ecstatically happy and the next I'm in tears. I blew up at you for no reason. It was stupid of me and I'm sorry." She stands up and tries to move toward the door to leave, but Troy won't let go of her hand and pulls her back to him. Sharpay turns to him and melts into his embrace as he wraps his arms around her, offering what comfort he can.

"I love you, Shar", Troy says as he tucks her head under his chin. She holds onto him as if her life depends on it.

"I love you, too", it gets easier to say and more natural every time she says it.

Now that they're not talking, Troy realizes the music is still playing and he starts to gently sway back and forth in a soothing manner to the song that's just started. To anyone entering the room, they look like a couple just slow-dancing to the music. It's one of the only slow songs on this CD and it seems incredibly appropriate. Troy starts to sing along, quietly.

Babe, tomorrow's so far away.
There's somethin' I just have to say.
I don't think I can hide what I'm feelin' inside
Another day, knowin' I love you

Sniffling a little, Sharpay comments, "That's a nice song."

"Yeah, it's one of the only slow songs I really like."

"What's it called?"

"Amanda...and the band is Boston."

"Amanda...that's a nice name."

"Yeah...it is."

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The next day, relations in the Bolton household are strained, to say the least. Jack and Lisa feel like their walking on eggshells. Therefore, it is a silent car ride to and from the orthopedist to have Sharpay's cast removed.

"I won't bite, you know", Sharpay finally says to break the silence.

"Are you sure, dear?", asks Lisa wryly.

Sharpay cracks a small smile. "Yes, I'm sure. Troy and I had a long talk yesterday and I apologized for overreacting."

Lisa lets out a breath. "Oh good, I see so much potential with the two of you and I'd hate to see a small argument escalate into something disastrous. It must feel good to have that thing off your arm", she says, trying to veer the conversation away from anything controversial.

"You wouldn't believe it! It feels so light; I'm in heaven", Sharpay explains. After almost three months and three different casts, Sharpay's arm is finally plaster-free. "Looks kind of funny, though", she comments as she places both her arms together to show how pale the right arm looks compared to the left.

"It won't take long for them to look the same again", Lisa assures her. "Did they set up appointments for your physical therapy?"

"Yes, I go three times a week starting next week and I have exercises to do at home."

"Well, Jack should be able to take you. His basketball camp ends today and he doesn't start enough one until after July fourth", Sharpay nods in understanding. "Hey, I may have a tutoring job for you, if you're interested, that is", Lisa says as they near the house.

"Really? That'd be great."

"Well, Sherry is a very nice woman; she's the director of my preschool and her daughter is in desperate need of help. I've never met the daughter, but if she's anything like her mother, then she's wonderful."

"Okay, what grade is she in?"

"She's in high school, a rising senior, I think, same as you and Troy. The class she needs the help in is Algebra II."

"Sweet, I think I'm really up to speed with that since I've been helping Troy. Ummm...just out of curiosity, how much does it pay?"

"I told her you wouldn't take anything less than $20 per hour."

"Wow, am I worth that much?"

"If you're as good as Troy says you are than that's a bargain. You can call her when we get home and set up a time to meet."

"Thanks, Mrs. Bolton. I really appreciate everything you're doing for me. Not everyone would be so nice", Sharpay says honestly.

"You're welcome, but you don't have to keep saying that. You're part of our family now, warts and all, and family helps family. So now that that's out of the way, how did the appointment go yesterday?", she ask, finally feeling comfortable enough to ask what she really wants to know.

"Great, everything's fine. Oooh! I have pictures to show you. With everything that happened yesterday, I completely forgot. I'll show them to you when we get home. You won't believe it; she was sucking her thumb. It was the most amazing thing", Sharpay says excitedly.

"I can't wait. We never saw that from Troy's ultrasounds, but he sure was a serious thumb sucker when he got out. He was nearly five before he got him to stop. Finally, Jack had to threaten to take away his basketball. That's what did the trick", Lisa smiles fondly at the memory.

"Wow, you know I remember him from Kindergarten; we were in the same class", she adds. "But I don't think I ever talked to him --- boy cooties, you know."

"Oh, yes. They still say that you know, even at the pre-school where I teach. Can't touch a boy, you might catch something."

"Don't I know it!", Sharpay laughs as pats her tummy.

"Ohh! Sorry, I didn't mean...", Lisa says embarrassedly.

"It's okay, Mrs. Bolton. I'm fine with it. I'm trying really hard to not be so sensitive about everything ---- like whether I'm having a girl or a boy..."

"About that, do you mind talking about it?", Lisa asks cautiously.

"No, I told you, Troy and I talked about everything last night."

Lisa sighs in relief. "Oh, good because I'm so excited about a little girl", Lisa gushes.

"Me, too. To tell the truth, I had a feeling it was a girl all along. But I'm not naming her Avril", Sharpay declares firmly and then her grim mask cracks into a smile.

"Have you considered April?", Mrs. Bolton asks with a wink.

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Monday evening, Sharpay finds herself standing nervously on the steps of a large two story stucco in a very nice section of the city. In fact, it's just a few blocks away from the large Evans estate. She spoke to 'please call me, Sherry' on the phone yesterday and arranged a time to meet with her daughter, Missy. The woman seemed very nice, albeit a little forgetful. Sharpay told the woman her name three times and she's still not sure she understood her. Sharpay is confident that she can do the job, but she's anxious, nevertheless. Trying to relax the firm grip that her left hand has on her backpack, she flexes out her right hand before reaching out to push the door bell button. Her first physical therapy session, earlier that day, has left her whole right arm sore. Her therapist is a real sadist.

"I don't care what you think about it, Melissa Ann Fields, you are getting a tutor and you're going to start studying or there's going to be no cheerleading, do you understand?"

Sherry Fields is staring down her daughter, Melissa, who is defiantly staring right back at her. The two Fields women are very similar physically. They are both only five feet, two inches tall and have the identical shade of blond hair (they both use the same hair stylist). Their identical bright blue eyes are currently locked together, waiting for who will blink first. The only real physical difference between them, aside from their age, is their weight. Mrs. Fields is a good fifty pounds heavier than her daughter and on her short frame that is a substantial amount. Melissa blinks first.

"But Mom, you can't stop me from cheering; it's what I live for and I'm the captain", Melissa whines as she stomps her foot for effect.

"It's not up to me, Missy; it's the school. If you fail this class, you'll be held back and you'll lose your position on the team. You knew this all along."

"Yeah, I know, but it's just not fair. Just because I'm not some freaky math nerd..."

"Well, even freaky math nerds have to study and you never do that."

"Alright", Melissa concedes, "who's this freaky math nerd who's going to work some miracle with me, anyway?"

"Well, you know I work with Lisa Bolton, Coach Bolton's wife...anyway, this girl is her son, Troy's, girlfriend. I spoke with her yesterday on the phone, but I forgot what she said her name was...something unusual, but I forget what."

"Gabriella Montez?", Melissa suggest as she smiles. Things are looking up. Gabriella Montez is a fourth degree wimp and she'll be a piece of cake to manipulate.

"That doesn't sound right and she didn't sound Hispanic to me."

"Mooom", Melissa says in an exasperated tone, "not everyone with a foreign name has an accent. Besides, I know for a fact that Gabriella Montez is Troy Bolton's girlfriend. They went to the prom together."

"Well, I still think it was a different name. But we'll find out soon enough; she should be here any minute now. And you will be considerate and attentive, understand?"

"Of course, Mom. I wouldn't think of doing anything else", Melissa replies in her most saccharined voice.

Their heads both turn towards the front of the house when they hear the door bell ring.

A short, obese woman opens the door with a warm smile on her face.

"Come right on in, my dear. I'm Sherry Fields, we spoke on the phone", the woman explains and she steps aside to let Sharpay enter.

"Hi, Mrs. Fields. I'm Sharpay."

"Sharpay!...that's it", at Sharpay's confusion, Sharpay explains, "I couldn't remember your name earlier. My memory--- they say it's the first thing to go. And please, call me, Sherry. Mrs. Fields makes it sound like I should be selling cookies in the mall, even if I do look like I've sampled more than my fair share of them", she says with a chuckle, as she indicates her large girth. "At least you have an excuse", she nods towards Sharpay's tummy, but before Sharpay can even think to be mortified, Mrs. Fields, plunges on. "Lisa explained that you're living with them now. The Boltons are such wonderful people. You know, I wasn't always like this; I used to be thin when I was young --- captain of my cheerleading squad in high school, believe it or not. But alas", she sighs dramatically, "it's the curse of women in my family. Never fails...before we turn thirty, we suddenly balloon out like,...,well, balloons." Mrs. Fields giggles like a school girl at her own joke. The rolls of fat on her stomach jiggle as she laughs and Sharpay is irreverently reminded of Santa Claus in the poem, The Night Before Christmas:

"He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!"

Sharpay is just standing there stunned. It doesn't look like Mrs. Fields has taken a single breath since she started talking. However, despite her insistent, non-stop talking, Sharpay likes her immediately.

"Well, enough of my yammering, let's go introduce you to Missy. I'm sure you'll get on famously with her."

Mrs. Fields leads Sharpay through the immense two story foyer, the ultra-modern stainless-steel kitchen and into the dining room. When Sharpay enters the enormous formal dining room, it's difficult to say who has the more stunned expression on her face: Sharpay or Melissa.

"Melissa?", Sharpay exclaims in surprise, then she realizes that Missy is a nickname for Melissa.

"Sharpay Evans?", Melissa says with more disdain than surprise in her voice. "Why are you here?"

"Melissa! Where are your manners? Sharpay is here to help you with your math, young lady."

"Her?! You said my tutor was Gabriella Montez", Melissa insists.

"No, I didn't, Missy. You said that. I said..."

"You said, she was Troy Bolton's...", then, it hit her.

Her tutor is Sharpay Evans, not Gabriella Montez. Her tutor is Troy Bolton's girlfiend; Sharpay Evans is pregnant (this she knew since that night at the movies); therefore, Daddy is..., "Holy Shit", Melissa lets slip before she realizes what she's saying.

"Melissa Anne Fields", screams her mother, "Your mouth, young lady!"

"Sorry, Mom", Melissa says sheepishly, "but it's just such a pleasant surprise to see Sharpay here! How are you, Shar?", Melissa asks in her syrupy sweet voice. "I had no idea you were expecting! You must be so excited!", she adds in an irritatingly high-pitch squeal. "Of course, it does cut down on you tanning time, I imagine."

"Um, hi Melissa. What a ... surprise to see you, too", Sharpay says in a subdued tone.

"Oh, this is wonderful", Sherry Fields gushes, "I had no idea you two knew each other. Well, I'll leave you alone so you can get to work. And I don't want the two of you to sit here and socialize the whole time. I remember how it was when two girl friends get together...just talk, talk, talk and then, before you know it, it's time for Sharpay to leave and you haven't gotten any work done."

Mrs. Fields leaves the room and shuts the two sliding doors shut behind her.

After she looks to make sure her mother has left, Melissa turns to Sharpay and smirks, "So...you're supposed to help me pass math, huh? When did you get so smart? 'Cause you don't look very smart to me, right now", she says as she leers at Sharpay's extended stomach. Gone is the sugary sweet cheerleader. This is the callous, manipulative teenager who most people have been lucky enough to avoid.

Sharpay unconsciously puts a hand over her belly while consciously taking a deep breath. She decides to take the high road and do her best to ignore this spiteful teenager's taunts. "You may think what you want, Melissa, but I'm here because your mother hired me to help you and that's what I plan on doing. Now, let's get to work."

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One hour and forty-five minutes later, Sharpay's nerves are frayed, her head hurts and she's about to walk out on this job, but not until she chokes the life out of this twit, Melissa. They've gone over the same material over and over again and she still doesn't seem to understand anything. Melissa just keeps asking Sharpay to work through more and more examples for her. And she's been whining continually. They are working on graphing parabolas and Sharpay has already completed at least twenty problems. Suddenly, Mrs. Fields opens up the doors and sweeps into the room carrying a large plate of caramel brownies on a tray with two glasses of milk.

"Well, since you girls have been working so hard, I thought you'd like to end a few minutes early and have a little snack."

Both Melissa and Sharpay breath a simultaneous sigh of relief.

"Did you get much accomplished?", Mrs. Fields asks as she sets the tray down on the table.

Melissa grabs a brownie immediately and starts to shove it in her mouth. "Mmmm", she mumbles, "Sharpay's great; she has lots of patience."

Sharpay looks at her in dismay. This can't possibly be the same person who's been whining and complaining for almost two hours and constantly telling Sharpay to slow down.

"Wonderful", praises her mother, "then let's plan on these sessions three times a week, so we'll see you again on Wednesday, and then on Friday. How does that sound, Sharpay dear?"

Sharpay slowly reaches out to pick up one of the glasses of milk and takes a sip while she tries to think of a tactful way to get out of this intolerable situation. However, Mrs. Fields doesn't give her a chance to reply before she starts talking again.

"Oh, do have a brownie, dear. Otherwise, I'll just eat them all and I certainly don't need it."

"Oh, thank you, but no. Chocolate gives me terrible heartburn. Actually, most things do, so I think I'll just stick with the milk. It's one of the few things that doesn't bother me."

"Oh my! Pregnancy heartburn. Well, it's more like acid reflux. Am I right? Because Missy gave me that something awful. My mother always said it means that the baby is going to be born with a full head of hair, but it certainly wasn't true with Melissa, here. She was as bald as a billiard ball until she was a year old. I used to have to glue little bows to her head so people wouldn't think she was a boy."

"Mother...", exclaims an exasperated Melissa as she reaches for her second brownie.

Then, before Sharpay finally has a chance to tell Mrs. Fields that she won't be coming back, the door chiming interrupts them.

"Oh, hang on there, girls. That's probably your ride, Sharpay. Let me get it."

As soon as Mrs. Fields opens the door, Sharpay hears Coach Bolton's voice echoing through the large voluminous foyer.

"Actually, it's a bit of a minor emergence, Sherry, and I need to get Sharpay as quickly as possible. It's a family matter", Jack says anxiously.

Sharpay quickly gathers up her things and hurries out of the room without giving Melissa a second glance.

"Coach? What's wrong?", Sharpay asks worriedly when she joins him at the front entry door.

"Later, Sharpay. Let's just get going now", and then to Mrs. Fields, he adds, "Goodbye Sherry, we'll talk soon."

Coach Bolton hustles Sharpay out the door and into his truck.

"What's going on, Coach? What's wrong?", Sharpay asks with concern.

"Just hold on a few more minutes, Sharpay. Buckle up."

He cranks the truck and shifts it into reverse. Then, he slams on the brakes when he hears Sherry Fields calling after them.

"Wait!", Sherry calls as she hurries out of the house trying to catch Jack and Sharpay. She doesn't see Jack Bolton winch when he hears her voice.

"Oh good, I almost didn't catch you", Sherry wheezes when she finally reaches the truck near the end of the short driveway.

"I almost forgot this, Sharpay", she hands Sharpay two twenty dollar bills through the open window, "and we'll see you at seven sharp on Wednesday evening. I think things went really well tonight, don't you, dear?"

"Gotta go, Sherry", Jack says flatly as he lets off the brakes and Sherry Fields is forced to step back away from the truck as he backs out of the driveway.

Once they get out onto the road, Jack glances over to Sharpay and explains, "Sorry about all the drama, Sharpay, but if you can't come up with a life and death situation, Sherry Fields would just talk and talk and it would be another hour before we got out of there."

"You mean there isn't any 'family emergency'?"

"Sorry again, if I scared you", Coach says with a small smile.

"Oh no, that's perfectly fine. I owe you one."

"Yep, that woman can talk a blue streak..., but how do I get you out on Wednesday?"

"I don't really even want to go back, Coach", Sharpay says pitifully.

"Things didn't go well?"

"I don't know; maybe I'm not really cut out for this, after all. She didn't seem to understand anything I was saying..."

"Well, don't give up yet because I've got you someone else for you tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh no...", Sharpay groans.

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As is her custom, Sharpay waits for Troy to come home from work before going to bed. Plus, she is still on edge from dealing with Melissa. She is sipping on a cup of herbal tea when Troy walks through the door. He looks tired; this busy schedule is starting to take its toil on him. However, in spite of his fatigue, his face lights up as soon as he sees Sharpay. She immediately returns his smile and she rises to meet him half way across the kitchen floor. They embrace and share a deep kiss. They end the kiss after a few minutes, but still continue hugging as Sharpay buries her head in his chest and Troy lays his cheek on top of her head.

Because of Sharpay's physical therapy appointment, they weren't able to have lunch today and by the time she returned, Troy had already left for his job.

"I missed you", Troy says breathlessly into her hair.

"Me, too", Sharpay mumbles, without lifting her head.

"You feel tense; are you okay?", Troy asks with concern.

Lifting her head up to look at his face, she says, "Yeah, I'm fine, I guess. It's just...I had my first tutoring session tonight and it didn't go so great."

"Right...with my mom's boss' daughter. Man, that woman can talk a blue streak..."

A small giggle escapes Sharpay's mouth, "That's the same thing your father said...what an odd expression. But anyway, she wasn't the problem. It was her daughter. Did you know Sherry Field's daughter is Melissa Fields from our school."

"Melissa Fields? You're kidding. Oh God, I can't seem to get away from her", Troy moans.

"What are you talking about?", Sharpay asks suspiciously.

"She's in summer school class with me and she won't leave me alone. She's always trying to start conversations with me and giggling at everything I say. She's a real pain."

"I think I'm going to quit. I mean the money is great, but she's..."

"Hey, I haven't seen you since early this morning and really don't want to waste our time together talking about that brainless cheerleader."

"You're right."

"Good, 'cause I need you to check my homework and see if it's right", Troy says sincerely.

"What!? I'm so sick of math right now; I don't think I'd recognize the right answer if I saw it. And besides, I thought you wanted to spend some quality time with me", she says with a cute little coy whine in her voice.

"How 'bout we sit on the sofa and you check my homework while I try to distract you?", Troy suggests as he waggles his eyebrows and gently starts to guide her towards the aforementioned sofa.

"Weeeell okay, but only if the distraction is worthwhile."

Sharpay sits down on the sofa and pulls the coffee table closer to the sofa so she can comfortably prop her feet up. Troy joins her shortly, after grabbing his school stuff.

"Okay, we're graphing parabolas and the teacher gave us problems out of a different workbook than we normally use. So here they are", he says as he tries to hands her his completed problem set.

"Okay, Bolton. I'm not touching this stuff 'til you start with the distracting", Sharpay says seductively as she pushes him down on the couch and perches herself over him and leans down towards his lips. She probably wouldn't be able to do this in couple of months. Her stomach would definitely get in the way. The homework lands on the coffee table, abandoned.

Sharpay licks Troy's lips so that they're warm, and then gently blows on them. The sudden cold blast makes for a sensual explosion and Troy responds by emitting a deep moan. He quickly plunges his tongue into her warm mouth and their tongues start to battle in a seductive dance in each other's mouths. Sharpay is reminded of something she read once. The life and soul are thought to pass through the mouth's breath in the exchange across tongues during a sensual kiss.

Troy hand starts to snake its way up under her top trying to reach her full breast. Sharpay chooses that exact moment to open her eyes and look into Troy's, but she accidentally glances over at Troy's homework sheet. She pulls back from Troy as if she's been burned.

"That bitch!", Sharpay says angrily and she swings her legs around, but remains sitting on Troy. She reaches over and grabs the homework sheet and doesn't even notices Troy's very audible groan as she shifts position on his lap.

"I can't believe this. That manipulative, little bitch!"

"Shar,...,Shar, please. You need to get off my lap, please", Troy groans through gritted teeth.

Sharpay looks down at him in confusion, but upon seeing the look of pain on his face, quickly realizes his predicament. She blushes deeply and literally jumps up off of him.

Troy sighs in relief. "What's going on?", he says frustratingly.

"Melissa. That's what's going on! She tricked me into do all of her homework tonight. I just thought she was stupid. Well, she is stupid, but she's also evil."

"Man, that sucks. What are you going to do?", Troy comments as he tries to adjust his jeans to make himself more comfortable.

"Ahh, revenge is sweet", Sharpay says cynically.

TBC

A/N 1: Start date: June 15, 2006 --- centimetering along as a snail's pace.

A/N 2: Remember, Troy likes classic rock and the song is, obviously, Amanda from Boston's third album, Third Stage.

A/N 3: You guys are going to love this. I know she's only half way through this pregnancy, but I want name suggestions. What should they name this little girl? So far we have April and Amanda --- just hung up on the A's for some reason.

A/N 4: Despite the whole " revenge is sweet" quote, I really have no idea what to do to this girl. Any suggestions? Oh, and I had to change Melissa's last name from a previous chapter. A friend of mine says that Fills is too close to her real name so it became Fields which worked out great with the whole Mrs. Field's cookie line.