Thank you all for reading the last chapter. Things are going to get crazier as we continue going through Thanksgiving week. It's just going to get worse from here.
But it made sense to end the last chapter with Troy and Kim then move it to this chapter since it connects back to Taylor at least.
I just wanted to let everyone know that all of my stories will be moving to a once every two-week rotation. For some stories, this will mean faster updates. For this one, it will mean slower updates. I'm doing this for a few reasons: we are getting into 100% new material. This took more energy from me than some of the earlier chapters, where I just fix typos and added a new scene here or there. There are completely new chapters and story arcs ahead. Also, some of the new chapters are close to 7000 words. So you'll have plenty of reading.
I also don't want to burn myself out. So pacing is important. I also have other grown-up responsibilities like taxes and laundry. So I also need to schedule some time to do things like that. I wish I could write all the time, but that isn't practical.
Chapter 35: Chaos at an Airport
Wednesday, November 26, 7:23 AM MST
Sharpay lay in her boyfriend's arms in those few minutes before her alarm would go off. She loved being with him like this. In those first few moments of the day, she felt completely safe and loved. She was absolutely petrified about what was to come today and tomorrow. Over the next two days, not only would she be meeting Chad's parents again, but also his entire extended family. The stories about Aunt Esther alone have made her slightly nauseous.
Although she is sure that things will be much calmer here than what her brother' is facing in NYC. Sharpay really should yell at her dad for getting Ryan involved with the Gabriella intervention without telling him everything. Ryan is going to be furious when he finds out Gabriella was responsible for the almost-sex tape. Her drinking problem isn't going to save her.
However, Vince can tell him when he gets to New York. Sharpay has reached her limit of telling Ryan horrible things over the phone for the year. He is barely talking to her after the last revelation. Ryan has spoken with Chad more in the previous three weeks. Olivia told her not to be offended by it because everybody needs time to process.
"What are you thinking about?" Chad asked as he placed a kiss on her neck and his hands went underneath the T-shirt that she was wearing. This got Sharpay out of her musings.
"I thought you were still asleep," Sharpay said as she turned around to look at him.
"I just like being with you when you are like this." he said, placing a kiss on her collarbone." You are usually so peaceful in the morning, but not today."
"I'm just thinking about meeting your parents today."
"You have met my parents before. You even survived a post-divorce lunch. Even Troy ran out of the last one screaming." Chad said, dead serious.
"I wasn't your girlfriend back then. I was just someone you went to high school with that you absolutely despised." She says this with a mock pout.
"I did not hate you. I just couldn't decide if I wanted to kill or kiss you." Chad said as he played with the hem of her T-shirt. "It's an Evans thing."
"I only get kisses now," Sharpay placed her mouth on his. Just as she felt Chad begin to take off her T-shirt, she heard voices in the hallway.
"Can you two please stop making out or having sex or whatever you're doing in there? We have to leave for the airport in an hour." A very annoyed Amanda call from the hallway. "There's also no food in this house, and I would really like to get a muffin on the way there. We don't have time for you and Chad to have fun this morning."
"It looks like it's time to get up," Chad said as he kissed her on the forehead and pulled her top back down.
"I don't want to," Sharpay said, pulling Chad back down on top of her and began kissing him again.
"If you guys are not out here getting ready in 5 minutes, I swear I will go in there with a bucket of cold water. I don't care if I walk in you guys doing certain things." This time it was Nikki yelling at them through the door.
"Go ahead. Maybe we can finally verify the bet." Marc called from the other side.
"You are just mad you lost $200 because they didn't do anything on Halloween," Amanda yelled at Marc.
"If it was 'anything,' somebody would have already won. Unfortunately, we were specific and did not calculate for Chad being one of us." Marc said to the other two so loudly that Chad and Sharpay could hear inside.
"Why did we invite them to stay over, so they wouldn't have to take a late flight yesterday?" Sharpay asked Chad as she walked over to her bedroom door.
"You are a kind person," Chad said, following her. "And Marc poured bleach on the laundry of on the asshole who kept posting the screenshots on our dorm room door."
"Only we're allowed to make snide comments about that," Marc smirked. "Outsiders are not welcomed and will be punished harshly."
"I don't get you sometimes." Chad shook his head.
"As you can see, we're fully clothed. So tone down the speculation right now. Will be ready to leave in 45 minutes; just let me take a shower." Sharpay said as she threw the door open.
"One of Chad's T-shirts does not count as being fully dressed. Especially when Chad is topless and has a hard-on," Amanda whispered the last part low enough that only Chad and Sharpay heard her. Sharpay just gave her a 'why are you looking at my boyfriend's dick' look. The look was scary enough to make the other three leave.
"I will go get ready in Ryan's room, and you stay here. If I stay, you definitely will not be getting dressed." Chad said, kissing her one more time before he went next door.
XXXX
November 26, 9:43 AM MST
Kim sat on the couch with her future father-in-law, drinking her second cup of coffee for the day. At least this one was drinkable. She loved Troy, but he could not make coffee. Also, he didn't think to pick up any at IHOP. Maybe she should get him cooking lessons for Christmas. She doesn't want Alex to live on takeout when he was staying with Troy.
They were listening to the sounds of Troy trying to get Alex ready, which involved lots of screaming and crying. Alex was screaming, and Troy was crying. Part three of Troy's gift for her birthday/emancipation day was she had the day off. He would be doing all household chores, including laundry and dishes, and practically everything involving Alex today. So far, he wasn't doing so well because Troy just added cursing to the screaming. Kim is 90% sure Alex threw a shoe at Troy.
"Shouldn't you go help him?" Jack asked her.
"If he's not down here in 30 minutes, I'll go up. We don't have to be at the lawyer's until noon now. They just pushed back the meeting another half an hour because there was an emergency." Kim explained.
"Troy is trying to give me the day off for my birthday. So far, he has managed to break a coffee maker and ruin the comforter. Thankfully I have a backup coffee maker." Jack laughed at that.
"I think the comforter was done on purpose because he does not want anything in our bedroom with a floral print. Honestly, I'm glad he didn't actually try to cook. Should I get him cooking lessons for Christmas?"
"That would probably lead to the fire department descending on your home. Honestly, yes, get him cooking lessons. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the concept that you two are preengaged and actively raising a child together. I know that technically this is my son's new permit address. Even though I like you, I just need time to get used to everything. You guys are going a little fast."
"At least one parent actually likes me," Kim said sadly. "Besides, this is your address for a little while too. If I get you kicked out, I should at least provide shelter." Kim wasn't entirely joking. She feels awful about Jack getting kicked out because of her.
"I wish I could tell you that Lucy was just shocked by everything going on. And potentially, she'll calm down, but honestly, I'm working on getting an appointment for Monday or Friday with Matt. I'm going to try to talk to Lucy today, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to need the services of a divorce attorney." Jack said darkly.
"Good call. Yesterday Lucy called me a pedophile, a child molester, a bitch, and four variations on the term prostitute. That is not even counting the text messages that she left Troy that I'm not gonna let him read. The woman hates me, and I accept that. I'm more worried about what this is doing to you and Troy. I don't want to be responsible for someone else's divorce. I definitely don't want to be the reason my boyfriend comes from a broken home now."
"I will be fine. I've gone through a lot during this marriage. I'll survive. Just worry about Troy." Jack told her. "I'm glad you made him get a new cell phone."
"Don't give me that line. I lived through Kim vs. Cáo Kim. That was the messiest divorce in Albuquerque's history. I can tell when a marriage is falling apart a mile away." Kim said in a very low voice, hoping that Troy wouldn't hear.
"Which is why you already told Carolyn you were paying for the divorce attorney before Lucy kicked me out yesterday," Jack told her.
"You were able to go to Las Vegas with me for a weekend without her asking questions. Alex is with you all the time, and not once did she catch you with him. Because she was always away on business. Did you really moved into Troy's room back in October without her realizing it?" Kim asked.
"Yes."
"You can stay here as long as you want as you work through this. We have a guest room. We have two now because my roommate just moved out."
"Why did she move out?" Jack asked.
"It is a very long dysfunctional story. Let's just say it involves Alex, grape Kool-Aid, and a white dress. I had to put the deposit down for her new place. I really don't want to talk about it. Just remember this is Troy's house, too, or will be as soon as he signs the papers. I'm buying it from my landlord because he's getting out of the renting to college students business. You are always welcome here." Kim said, passing a key to him.
"Troy wanted you to have a copy anyway since he wouldn't be here a lot for the next couple of months."
"Thank you," Jack said as he took the key from her.
"However, if the soon-to-be ex-wife shows up, call the cops," Kim said darkly. "I don't want her near anybody in this household here, including you. Vanessa thinks you should get a restraining order. I don't think you should actually go talk to her today without your lawyer present, and by that, I mean Carolyn." Kim smirked.
"I'll talk to Carolyn about it when we have dinner tonight. I assume you and Troy are not coming to a very Bolton Thanksgiving tomorrow despite Lucy's demands?" Jack asked in disappointment.
"I don't know because Troy wants to see the other family members like his Uncles Chris and Zachary. I want to be able to defend myself before Lucy poisons everyone against me."
"She probably will. But if you're going, I will help you deal with everybody." Jack says firmly.
"Thank you. Regardless, you are invited to a very Kim/McKessie Thanksgiving tomorrow morning. This year Vanessa is hosting for the first time." Before Jack could reply to her, Troy came down the stairs carrying a fully dressed Alex.
"See, I told you I could get him dressed. I don't know why you were so worried." Troy said as he handed Alex over to Kim.
"It only took you 45 minutes. The only problem is Alex is wearing the suit Sharpay bought him for tomorrow. He is supposed to be wearing the periwinkle suit today."
"My son is not wearing a pink suit," Troy said, annoyed.
"It's not pink; it's Periwinkle. Ryan wears pink."
"Yes, but it's Ryan. He can pull it off." She can hear Jack laughing in the background as they argue about the suit.
"Chad wears pink too." Kim shot back.
"I'm sure Sharpay was involved in that."
"Actually, Sharpay is now actively rebelling against the color because Darby was the one who forced her to wear it. Chad is currently in his 'I am here, I'm queer, I will wear whatever the fu…'" Kim stopped her self realizing she couldn't give Troy the exact quote with Alex in the room. "You get what I mean."
"Point. However, Chad is no longer at the stage where he wears most of his food. You do remember Alex getting blueberry syrup all over himself and your floral comforter?" Troy asked.
"You got blueberry syrup on the comforter and ruined it. Alex got it on himself. I still think you did that on purpose." Jack starts laughing even harder at this point.
"With Alex around, you probably shouldn't have something that stains easily. This is why Alex should not wear Periwinkle." Troy argued.
"Your point is valid. Alex can wear the black pinstriped suit tomorrow that Sharpay bought him. It will go good with the little Italian loafers that Sharpay got him as well." Her boyfriend started laughing hysterically when she mentioned the loafers.
"Why are you laughing? Do you have the same issue with Italian shoes that Chad does? That's the only thing he won't let Sharpay buy him."
XXXX
A little while later, across town.
Sharpay sat in the cell phone waiting area with Amanda by her side in the convertible. They successfully dropped off Marc and Nikki half an hour ago with minimal snide comments.
To avoid the fighting that occurred when Chad moved into the dorms, she and Chad would do everything possible to prevent fighting. This meant keeping Chad's mother and father from seeing each other this entire holiday weekend. Chad's mom would be arriving at the airport precisely one hour before Chad's father. Chad's mother would ride back to the house with Sharpay, and Chad would pick up his father. Chad's mother would be staying with them at the mansion, as already set up by her dad. He absolutely adored Carolyn. Chad's father would be staying at a Garden Express on the other side of town. They will be having lunch with his mother this afternoon and dinner with his father tonight.
Carolyn made other plans with Jack, which is good because Jack could definitely use a friend right now. Especially one who can give divorce attorney recommendations. Lucy kicking Jack out for supporting Troy, and Kim came out after the basketball game. Per Chad, who actually knows some Korean Jay called Lucy the cultural equivalent of evil bitch. That's definitely not a good sign.
At 10:00 AM Tomorrow, they would drive over to his Aunt Claudia's house for Thanksgiving 'dinner', which will begin promptly at 11 AM. They will leave at 12:30 PM and meet Chad's Mom at his grandmother's house at 1:00 PM. At 4:00 PM, they will leave for a very Bolton Thanksgiving.
That Thanksgiving is currently TBD. It depends on the recommendations of the lawyers and if Lucy can calm the fuck down by tomorrow. Although nobody really wants to speak to Lucy ever again, Troy wants to see his uncles, the good aunt, and Nana Katrina. Kim thinks they should still go so that Lucy can't poison the well with the rest of the family, and Jay actually agreed with her. So Chad and Sharpay are on standby to be the supportive friends and possibly supply bail money.
Unfortunately, no matter how thoroughly you plan, things have a tendency to fall apart, especially when flight schedules are involved. Ms. Sanchez's flight was delayed. Good thing Sharpay brought her reading for English. At least Coup D'état seemed interesting. She was halfway through the graphic novel when her cell phone pinged.
XXXX
Sexy boyfriend: My mom just texted us. She just got off the plane and is making her way towards baggage. She should be out in 15 minutes, so we should move to the pickup area soon. Besides, I doubt my dad is going to bother to text me.
Sharpay: You don't know that. Maybe the flight from Cleveland was also affected by bad weather?
Sexy boyfriend: I just checked the site; his plane landed 10 minutes ago. Since he can't be bothered to actually communicate with me, I'm just going to assume he's already here. This is all going to blow up in our faces. They are probably going to get into a fight at the baggage carousel.
Sharpay: Remember, we purposely book them on flights from different airlines just to avoid that possibility.
Sexy boyfriend: With the way our luck has been going, the airlines will have their carousels next to each other.
Sharpay: Taylor just texted. Gabriella crashed her lunch with Ryan. And she needed somebody to complain to.
Sexy boyfriend: It's weird that you are now text message friends with my ex when you couldn't stand each other at all before we got together.
Sharpay: I sent her a lot of pictures and text messages of Jason during the play. We were able to work through some stuff. Taylor isn't who I thought she was, and I'm not who she thought I was. Also, our mutual disdain for Gabriella helps.
Sharpay: I don't think it's completely hate on her part. Some of it is former best friend concerned. Taylor was hoping Gabby would be at a rehab center by this point.
Sharpay: I'm not even surprised she ended up being the alcoholic of the group. If Darby taught me anything, it is to never trust happy people. People that happy are always faking it.
Sexy boyfriend: I don't trust her at all, especially after Gabriella texted me a picture of Ryan and Taylor making out at breakfast this morning.
Sharpay: Why?
Sexy boyfriend: For the sake of making me really jealous. I'll show you her actual text messages later. I would delete them, but I probably need to show Troy Friday after getting done with all the Thanksgiving mess.
Sharpay: When deep down, it probably made you hard.
Sexy boyfriend: I'm not answering that question.
Sharpay: You should probably send Ryan the screenshots. Although send them to me now.
Sexy boyfriend: Fine. You are so bossy. I'm moving the car up now.
Sharpay: I'll follow behind.
Sexy boyfriend: Do you know that Ryan and Taylor are pretending to be together to screw with Gabriella?
Sharpay: Yes. It seems to be about as pretend as you and me when it came to Penelope.
Sexy boyfriend: As you can see from the screenshots, Gabby thinks that we all had a poly relationship together in high school and left her completely out of it. At least that's what I think she was saying because I'm pretty sure she's already drunk by the time she sent those messages this morning. I don't understand drunk ramblings.
Sharpay: Amanda does. She says it is a special dyslexia skill. Amanda reads what is supposed to be there, not what's actually there. Mandy agrees with you. Gabriella is already day drinking, per Taylor. Whatever she was consuming at lunch was highly alcoholic.
Sexy boyfriend: This is totally why I am afraid to look at your brother's text messages. Because if Gabriella's this much of a mess, we might have to tell Troy. I prefer not to because you know how bad of a day he had yesterday.
Sharpay: Ryan sent me a bunch of pictures of him and Taylor in various spa treatments this morning.
Sharpay: Amanda is pretty sure that Ryan has had a crush on her since the beginning of the school year. Partially because he was the one who said the nicest things about her.
Sexy boyfriend: He did always joke about us having a threesome. I wonder if he was actually joking?
Sharpay: I am very understanding about the fact that you almost dated my brother. Still, even I have limits—no hypothetical three ways with blood relatives.
Sexy boyfriend: I don't want to have a threesome with him and Taylor now. Ryan is currently text message flirting with Zack, so I think they have their new perspective third. Although I think he's really gay, so I'm not sure how that would work.
Sexy boyfriend: Maybe I should get ZacK a copy of The Idiot's Guide to Polyamorous Relationships for Christmas? Ryan already has his copy courtesy of your father.
Sharpay: Still better than when Gabriella got me a copy of Maybe He's Just Not That into You. Ryan is a big boy; he'll figure it out.
Sexy boyfriend: Very big. Evans are my favorites.
Sharpay: You are horrible. Amanda thinks she sees your dad.
XXXX
Sharpay looked up to see it was actually Chad's dad exiting in front of the airport. Unfortunately, he was not alone. He was with a very pregnant woman who couldn't be older than Kim dressed in a junior version of maternity wear. She sort of looked familiar, but Sharpay couldn't remember where she knew her from.
"This isn't good," Sharpay said out loud as she looked back to the car behind her to see Chad's angry face.
"It doesn't mean anything. Maybe Charles is just helping her with her bags." Amanda suggested trying to calm Sharpay down.
"Yes, and she's thanking him by sticking her tongue down his throat," Sharpay said sarcastically as she pointed to the obvious couple. She looked back to see her boyfriend in absolute shock; he wasn't moving or screaming. This was not good. When Ms. Sanchez walked out just in time to witness the entire scene, Sharpay knew this would be a disaster.
XXXX
BFF Jack: Hey, the lawyers switched us to noon because there was a crisis with one of his big clients.
BFF Jack: We just got another message, and they just asked us to come at 1 PM instead. Do you still want to meet us at the lawyers' office?
Carolyn: Hey, I just got off the plane. We got here A full 65 minutes late. The woman sitting next to me actually missed her connecting flight.
BFF Jack: It's OK. The appointment just got moved again to 1:30 PM. It may not even stay at that time. Apparently, something big is happening per Marcy, the paralegal.
Carolyn: Text me the address. I'll ask Sharpay to drop me off. I know they have lunch planned, but you need me.
BFF Jack: I will in a few minutes. Actually have to go get the address from Marcy. We can pick up pizza afterward, and I can go with you back to the Evans house. I think I much rather spend time with you, Chad, and Sharpay than Kim and Troy, especially because Alex is spending the night with grandma and grandpa Kim. Kim and Troy forget that other people are around when they're together. The walls are also thin, and I heard them last night.
Carolyn: You definitely don't want to be there tonight. Besides, I feel like we're going to end up consuming enough wine that driving would not be advisable. You should just stay over.
BFF Jack: I'll bring an overnight bag.
XXXX
Carolyn Sanchez was happy to be going back home. Although she now lived in DC, she will always think of Albuquerque as home. Carolyn missed her son and her best friend Jack very much. She wanted to spend the holiday with her baby and his new girlfriend. From conversations with her son, she knew that this relationship was a lot more serious than his last one.
She's also grateful that her prescheduled trip is corresponding with the actual implosion of Jack's marriage. She needs to be a supportive best friend like he was with her. If her neighbor Margarita made her pack condoms, no one needs to know that.
Margarita knew way too much about her divorce. Such as kissing Jack after catching Charles screwing Tiffany and then subsequently not talking about it for the last year. But if it really was over with Lucy, she knew they would have to talk about that kiss. The idea of having that conversation didn't scare her, and maybe that's the real reason why she brought condoms even though she knows she won't be using them. You don't sleep with your best friend of more than 18 years the moment they filed for divorce.
The only thing Carolyn wasn't looking forward to was spending time around her ex-husband. Mostly because he was bringing Tiffany. She has no idea if Charles actually told Chad the truth about what happened yet.
The plan was for her to come out for Thanksgiving and for Charles to visit at Christmas. After the disaster that was moving day, she wanted to avoid Charles. Instead, back in October, Charles said that he was coming to Thanksgiving because Tiffany was coming up to see her family. This was because her cousin almost died in September. If Carolyn didn't know who her cousin was, she would think it was just Charles breaking another promise.
Charles wanted her to tell Chad about Tiffany. Carolyn refuses to because that's not her job anymore. She is completely done with him. She's not doing him any favors.
The new plan was for her and Charles not to see each other, but per the text message she got from Chad, that wasn't going to happen because their flights arrived at near the same time. She wasn't worried about that. She could deal with being in close contact with her ex-husband for short periods. She will politely wave at him and then get in the car and have Sharpay drive her to Jack. She really wanted Jack right now.
Of course, when she exits out of the terminal, she sees Charles and Tiffany making out. At least they were dressed this time, and he wasn't fucking a 20-year-old on her bed. Of course, the horrified Chad in the background found the scene in front of him terrifying. This Carolyn could not deal with. What an asshole.
She knew from Chad's expression that Charles never told Chad about Tiffany. She never told Chad the real reason why she finally left Charles. She let Chad think it was just irreconcilable differences and another casualty of marrying way too young for the wrong reasons. That was part of the reason why their marriage didn't work. The main reason was that Charles had an affair with a barely legal Tiffany for several months before the divorce. Now it looks like her son would have a new half-sibling. This she didn't know about. She's going to need two bottles of wine with Jack tonight.
"Considering our child is going into cardiac arrest, I assume you never told him about Tiffany?" Carolyn asked bitterly as she walked over to the car.
"We're not together anymore, Carolyn. My choices are no longer any of your business." She laughed at that.
"Anything involving my son concerns me." She said in an icy tone to the man. "I told you I wasn't going to break the news gently, and it was your responsibility to do so. But you didn't. You never take responsibility." At that moment, she saw that Chad was breathing again. Maybe part of his worry was that he didn't know that she knew.
"That's not true," Charles said to her in an angry voice holding Tiffany closer to him.
"Yes, it is. You show up with your pregnant girlfriend without preparing him. That's just a wonderful way to tell Chad that he's going to be a big brother." Carolyn said, glaring at her ex-husband. For some reason, Tiffany actually looked more ashamed than Charles did.
"You're right. I'm sorry for that. I should've made Charles call Chad and explain about my presence. Or at a minimum, I should ask Kerri to do it because she would actually do it." That part was mumbled under her breath.
"Let me give you some advice that I wish someone would have given me." Other than Amy, who she didn't listen to. "You are not responsible for Charles' bad decisions. You don't have to cover for him or make excuses for his bad behavior. Otherwise, you will always be doing that, and your child deserves more than that from you. They deserve at least one good parent."
"I'm a good parent," Charles argued.
"Obviously not because you couldn't even be bothered in the last year to explain why we got a divorce." Carolyn practically yelled.
"Stop it," Sharpay yelled from beside the bickering group. "You are both here to spend time with your child. Stop arguing and act like adults."
"She started it." Her ex-husband replied much the same way a two-year-old would.
"No, you started it by not letting Chad know Tiffany was coming. Or letting anybody know that you still don't know how to use condoms properly." Carolyn said to her ex.
"This was more my fault. Did you know that food with Charcoal can accidentally deactivate your birth control? I learned that the hard way. Don't make my mistakes." Tiffany said, putting a hand on her stomach, looking directly at Sharpay and who Carolyn assumes is Amanda. It's tough to hate someone when you see them as the ghost of your 16-year-old self.
"That actually can happen?" Chad asked. That's the first time she's heard him talk at all.
"Charcoal is commonly used in overdose cases. As a premed student, I know that but didn't connect the dots."
"It still wouldn't have happened if he knew how to use a condom properly," Carolyn said, looking directly at Charles. "Remember, kids always used two contraceptives."
"OK, let's just stop fighting and get out of here before security comes out," Sharpay said, throwing her keys to Amanda. "Carolyn, you'll be riding with Amanda. Mr. Danforth and Tiffany; Chad, and I will be dropping you off at your hotel."
XXXX
15 minutes later, Carolyn was riding into town with the girl she only knew you from text messages.
"I thought I was supposed to be riding with Sharpay?" Carolyn asked as they started making their way out of the airport. Traffic was awful because it was the day before Thanksgiving.
"You were. However, Shar could pick up that Chad couldn't be alone with his father. Finding out your father's with someone new after seeing them make out in front of you can do that to a person. We're all worried that once he gets over the shock, Chad might punch your ex-husband out." Amanda explained.
"I should've told him myself." Carolyn just placed her head in her hands. She knows better than to trust Charles to deal with things. She didn't want Chad to find out like that.
"It was Charles's responsibility, not yours. Sharpay is on it. Although I am concerned that she's letting me drive the convertible. Sharpay doesn't let her brother drive this car. She only lets Chad drive the car because it is technically in his name. Shar must be worried."
Her son was dating this girl for less than three months, and she already had property in his name. Carolyn already realizes this was a lot deeper than anything he had with Taylor.
"Although I think instead of a restaurant lunch, we are going to get some takeout. Besides, I think Chad's going to need some quality time with you after what just happened."
"You might be right." Carolyn sighed, knowing that means that she can't see Jack right away. Chad needed her.
XXXX
Carolyn: Hey, change of plans. Charles was an ass and didn't tell Chad about Tiffany. Oh, and Tiffany is super pregnant because apparently, somebody thought it would be a good idea to put Charcoal in food. Also, Charles still doesn't know how to properly use a condom.
BFF Jack: Oh fuck!
Carolyn: Yep. So I need to have lunch with my son. I think we're going to do take out at the mansion because nobody really wants to be around people right now.
Carolyn: Sharpay was supposed to drive me back. But because she could pick up on Chad freaking out, Amanda is driving me instead. I know that they're close, but I think you're like the only person who could read me that way, and we've known each other for almost 2 decades. This is nothing like Chad's relationship with Taylor.
BFF Jack: They've known each other for 13 years. The reading each other thing actually isn't that strange. Do you remember when I made them team up as a married couple in health class?
Carolyn: Didn't you end up giving them detention for a week?
BFF Jack: Yes, for arguing, but they were the only couple that actually got an A in the class. It was weird. They acted like an actual couple that's been married forever. They could communicate without talking.
Carolyn: I know, it's just there's so young. We got married young and well, look at where we are.
BFF Jack: There's no age limit on bad choices.
Carolyn: True. We'll meet up after lunch. Also, apparently, we're hitting up a grocery store, so I will get more alcohol and chocolate.
BFF Jack: I drove my own car to the lawyers, so I'll meet you at the Evans as long as nothing happens at the attorneys. Although Kim thinks I should get someone from the office to go with me to get my stuff this afternoon.
Carolyn: You should. At a minimum, you should see if Marcy can come with you. Also, just take stuff you'll need for the next few days.
BFF Jack: Thank you, my favorite attorney.
Carolyn: I'll see you this afternoon. You have no idea how much I've missed you.
BFF Jack: I miss you too. It will be OK. You'll get through this.
Carolyn: You'll get through it too. I'll be here for you as you work your way through it.
To be continued…
The weird thing about rewriting this story 11 years later is I am closer in age to Carolyn and Jack than I am to Chad and Sharpay now. I'm having more fun writing about her relationship with Jack than I am with the kids. College kid romances are entertaining, but I'm here for the adults. At this point, it's evident that I'm expanding on things I only hinted about in the first version. This is probably why this Thanksgiving arc will be ridiculously humongous even without incorporating the spinoff's storyline into the main narrative.