CHAPTER 9

((Hi again everybody, im beginning the next chapter now yay I hope to get 2 more out tonight thanks for all the reviews I try to respond to all of them…im sorry if I miss you.. so review of last chapter: mr. bolton says troy cant sing anymore, chad and the basketball fellas come up with a plan to cheer Troy up so they can beat Claremont, and Gabby's hormones take over her temporarily, Troy discovers basketball is no longer fun for him…I have some plans for this chapter youll just have to read and find out.. R&R

XOXO, Christine))

Composure Slip

Troy laid on his bed reading his script. He felt like crying. His father had robbed him off the thing he loved. His music. He had grown to treasure it more than basketball. It was just so relaxing, and there was no pressure. Now, he couldn't have it. His father had already informed him of how hard he was going to work him to prepare for Claremont. Troy didn't care. He didn't care about the game. He didn't care about the outcome. Win or lose, he'd still be depressed. Finally, Troy lost the composure he had built up playing basketball. He let go of his script, and had a good cry.

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"But Troy loves singing," said Mrs. Bolton. She was having a little chat with her husband in their bedroom. She didn't have the same views as Jack Bolton on the subject.

"He's allowed to do more than just play basketball. It's not healthy to be focused on only one thing."

"He can focus on his grades," replied Jack. "Then, maybe he'll pull them up and it'll increase his chances of a basketball scholarship to a place like Duke."

"But you only want him to focus on grades for basketball," said Sarah Bolton. "So technically, that can be associated with basketball."

"Sarah, Troy's "singing thing" is making us grandparents. He got his singing partner pregnant. If it wasn't for singing, this never would have happened."

"You have a point."

"See!"

"But why did you ban him from the theatre part of the school?"

"It's for his own good. So he won't run into any temptations."

Mrs. Bolton shook her head. "I still think you're wrong."

"Honey, this Gabriella girl has manipulated him into loving singing. He only likes to sing because he likes her. She basically has forced him not too like basketball. Once, he rules a game or two, he'll be back to normal. Trust me. You have always said that the first thing you committed to was the principal commitment. Well, he committed to basketball, first, and frankly, there's no way he can do both at the same time. They lined up and understudy for his person in the show. I'm sure the understudy will be even better than Troy."

Mrs. Bolton sighed. "You used my own words against me," she said. "Talk it out with Troy. I'll leave it up to you too."

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"Gabby!" yelled Karen Montez up the stairs. "It's dinner time."

"One second!" replied Gabby.

"You need to eat now! For the baby!"

"Coming, mom!"

Gabriella came down stairs. She had clearly been crying. "What's the matter?" asked her mother.

"Mr. Bolton isn't going to allow Troy to do the musical."

"Oh, Gabby, I'm so sorry," replied her mother pulling her into a hug. "Why not?"

"He says it interferes with basketball. I think it's because of me. Me and my baby."

"Oh no. It is not because of you and the baby," Karen comforted her. "Mr. Bolton wants Troy to focus on basketball. Aren't they at a pretty crucial point in the season?"

"Yes," said Gabriella. "He's afraid that Troy's singing will keep the team from winning."

"I can see what he means, but he's still wrong."

"Troy?" Mr. Bolton knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Fine," Troy said.

Mr. Bolton opened the door. Troy was sitting on his bed, his knees hunched up to his chest, with his arms pulling them. (have fun picturing that. Sorry.) "Have you been crying?" asked Mr. Bolton disgustedly. "Come on, Troy, this is no way for a tough basketball player to act. You're being a wimp."

"Stop," said Troy firmly. "I don't care what you have to say. What, did you come back to attempt to ruin my life even more? Are you gonna tell me that I'm not allowed to see Gabriella any more?" Troy had a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Don't disrespect me, Troy. I hate to see you unhappy. I really do. But, you have a commitment to your team. You can't just abandon them in the middle of the season for a school musical. It's not fair to the team."

"It's not fair to me to put so much pressure on me about basketball," Troy snapped.

"Hey," replied Jack Bolton, "I just want you to be the best you can be. It takes hard work. You have tremendous talent, Troy. Don't waste it."
"I'm not," snapped Troy, his voice slightly rising, "that's why I'm singing. Because I have talent there on that stage. That's the talent I'd rather pursue. Not basketball."

"Troy, you're just…"

"I am not going through a phase!" Troy was yelling now. "Singing is my true passion. It's a pity it took me so long to realize that!"

"I am your father!" yelled Jack, "and I know what is best for you. I heard you sing, Troy. You're good. But not great. You're much better at basketball.'

"What do you know!

"Everything, young man! Lower your voice right now!"

"Or what?"

Mr. Bolton stood up and started towards Troy. Troy dodged him, ran out of his room, jumped the stairs two at a time, fumbled the keys off the key rack, bursted out the door into his car, and drove away. He sped to Gabriella's house. Looking back he noticed that his dad wasn't following him. He relaxed and slowed down to the speed limit, occasionally glancing out his mirrors to make sure that his dad wasn't chasing him. He arrived at Gabriella's and unlocked the door with the spare key. Gabriella had told him of the key's location in case there ever was an emergency. He called this one.

"Hello?" He called inside the house. "Gabby?"

"Upstairs," she called back. He walked up the stairs into her room. She was reading a book. Troy was sweating. "Troy," she asked, "what's wrong?"

"My dad," he said. "We were having a little chat, and then we got into a fight, and then he tried to grab me but I ran away."

"Oh ,Troy," she said hugging him. "Thank God you're okay. Does your mom know about what your dad does to you?"

"I don't think so,' said Troy, "my parents bedroom is all the way on the other side of the house. You can't hear anything. He always does it after she goes to bed."

"Why don't you tell her?" asked Gabby stroking his hair.

"She won't believe me," said Troy. "She loves my dad, and besides, I think she's afraid of him sorta."

"That's terrible," said Gabriella.

Kelsi was looking over the musical for Twinkle Towne. She dearly wished that Troy and Gabriella could both do the part. Gabriella had already made it clear that if Troy didn't sing, then neither would she. She put the song Breaking Free on her piano stand, and began to play it. She imagined Troy and Gabby singing it at the callbacks. And then she began to sing along:

We're soarin, flyin,

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

If we're trying
So we're breaking free

You know the world can see us

In a way that's different than who we are

Creating Space between Us

Til We're Separate Hearts

But your faith it gives me strength

Strength To Believe

We're Breaking Free

We're Soaring Flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

Kelsey had to stop after that. She felt like she was going through what Troy and Gabriella were going through. After all, she was only a pianist she thought to herself. But then, she thought again. Sharpay and Ryan had thought her as just the pianist, an unimportant little thing, while Troy and Gabriella thought she was one of the most important parts of the show. After all, according to them, without Kelsi, there was no show. Now she really wished they were doing the part.

Howdja like it. Reviews please.. hopefully I can get another chapter out tonight.. I think so but I am not positive…I hope everyone likes the story so far… theres more to come…I haven't decided on the gender of the baby…but I have been thinking about names for both…. I'll probably choose right when the baby is born... thanks for all the reviews keep it up…. Next chapter will be up soon hopefully in about an hour.. XOXO, Christine