-1Title: Action and Reaction
Rating: Teen
Summary: Troy finally takes action, and learns he might have ruined everything.
Warnings: Nada this chapter.
Notes: Nearing the end of the fic, yay for us.
Disclaimer: I own it like I own Santa.
Chapter Seven: Runaway
On his sixth day in New York, Troy took Ryan and Sharpay out for a breakfast deep in the heart of the city, at her favorite place. He would have much rather preferred to stay in, but Sharpay had worked her magic and thrust out her lower lip. She knew he couldn't stand up to that lip, especially when it started to quiver, and he should have known she had no qualms about playing dirty. It seemed she desired fresh air almost desperately and she'd take the pain of moving around in exchange, and gladly.
They settled into the selected restaurant's booth and scanned their menus. The atmosphere was pleasant and Troy almost forgot about the important things on his mind. With one arm thrown around Sharpay's slender shoulders and the other holding up his menu, he couldn't help but feel completely at ease. Soothing music played softly and the sound of children and happy families had him smiling faintly.
Once their orders were placed, Sharpay slipped off to the ladies room and Ryan leaned across the table to ask, "You okay?"
Troy chuckled nervously, fingering the edge of the table nervously. "After our talk I wasn't sure you'd be asking me that anytime soon."
"I'm looking out for my sister, Troy," Ryan said, scoffing at his friend, "But that doesn't mean I've stopped being your friend. You're under pressure and I wouldn't be worthy of your friendship if I didn't recognize that and ask if you need to vent."
"Do I ever."
Ryan spared a look towards the bathroom. "Coast is clear, vent away. What are you planning to do?"
Troy caught a whiff of fresh pancakes and his stomach rumbled, momentarily distracting him. When he refocused on Ryan he said, "I've had a lot of time to think about it." In fact he hadn't slept after his talk with Ryan. He'd departed after a cup of coffee and crawled back in bed with Sharpay. He'd attempted to sleep, but his mind was too twisted and he was far too conflicted. He'd know if Sharpay's calm breathing hadn't been able to lull him to sleep, nothing would. "And I'm still not sure, honestly. I know I love Sharpay, but I'm not sure where I stand with Gabriella."
Ryan nodded and patiently waited.
"I called my roommate this morning."
"To talk?"
"No," Troy said. "Andy is great and he's one of my best friends, but he's got his own worries with his own girl. I can't pin this on him, especially with the stuff he's got on his plate right now. Plus, he's met Sharpay and they get along great. If I explain the situation he'll prompt me to pick her no matter what."
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware you were picking between the two of them."
"I'm not!" Troy's hands flew to his hair and he pulled lightly, holding back his frustration. "It's no contest, I'd pick Sharpay no matter what. She's my girlfriend and I love her. That's not what I meant."
"So?" Ryan prompted.
"I called Andy to get Chad's number. I think I have a better chance of him being neutral then Andy."
Ryan slipped his ice water. "Chad?"
"Yeah, you remember him, right?"
"I remember he's the guy who hid my shoes from me in kindergarten and I cried because he told me I couldn't go home without them. He also, on several times I might add, placed my name on sign up sheets from sporting activities multiple times during middle and high school. Yes, I'm well acquainted with Chad."
Troy grimaced. "He maybe picked on you a little bit."
"A little bit? He and his buddies stole a 'caution wet' sign, freshmen year on picture day. I slipped, dragged Sharpay down with me and we were both soaked."
"I haven't talked to him since high school," Troy reasoned, "Maybe he's grown up. He's not a bad guy, you know, he's always been just a little immature. He's never intended to hurt anyone."
"That's not the point, Troy. While you were off being a good son your friends were terrorizing me, Sharpay and our friends. I sincerely hope he's grown up." With a deep sigh he asked, "You got his number? To talk?"
Troy nodded. "I have to spare a little faith that he'll give me an unbiased answer. Far as I know he's still pretty ticked about the whole incident, and like Gabriella he blames you and Sharpay. But he was my best friend for my whole life. We did everything together, since we were in diapers, to high school. When it comes down to it, I have to hope he'll realize how important his opinion is to me and he'll give me one that isn't clouded with his petty anger."
Ryan caught Sharpay's form moving towards their table and he murmured, "Good luck with that."
Their food arrived shortly thereafter and Troy savored in a fluffy stack of pancakes. He wiggled his eyebrows at his girlfriend and her vegetarian meal, then chomped down on a piece of bacon.
"Disgusting," she said, a smile tugging at the edges of her mouth. Her eyes snapped to Ryan and his plate of meat. "The both of you."
"You're just jealous," Ryan taunted, waving a sausage at her. "Me and Troy here, we're eating the best, getting full and satisfied. You, on the other hand, have a glorious breakfast of fruit." He jabbed his fork at her breakfast, pointing out the large quantity of fruit amidst her pancakes and croissant.
Pouring another douse of syrup on his pancakes Troy said, "I hate to bring it up," and he really did, but he'd put it off long enough. "But tomorrow is the longest I can stay." He felt Sharpay tense next to him and he said quickly, "I've been here almost a week, and my boss won't give me anymore time, and I can't afford to fall behind any more in my studies. Finals are coming up soon and classes are getting harder."
Regrettably Ryan said, "Me, too, Shar. When you had your accident, I dropped everything. I have to get back, and at the very least get my bills paid."
Sharpay pouted, looking between her two favorite men. "You're both leaving me?"
"I don't want to," Troy stressed, "And I'll see if I can get some more time, but I have to go back for now. I've got a plane ticket for the day after tomorrow."
"And you?" Sharpay asked, more then a little hostile. "When are you going?"
Ryan grumbled, "Tomorrow."
"It's okay," she said, stuffing a piece of cantaloupe into her mouth. "I have to get back to the agency, and I've got a half million things to do. You boys just go back home, I'll be fine on my own."
"Sharpay--" Troy sighed, hating when she was visually upset.
"I'll be fine," she reiterated, stressing it. "Fine."
Troy buckled down to ride out his final two days, as he was sure a storm was brewing.
Later that afternoon Ryan seemingly disappeared and Sharpay's pain medical had her sleeping deeply in her room. Troy checked on her, draped a soft blanket over her relaxed form and shut her bedroom door. He picked his cell phone up and dug out a small piece of paper from his pocket. He dialed slowly and carefully, then pressed the phone to his ear as it began to ring.
It rang several times before a deep and rushed voice answered.
Troy found his own words caught in his throat, but he managed, "Chad?"
There was a pause, and then, "Troy?"
Troy gave a week chuckle. "Yeah, it's me."
"It's been a while."
"Since graduation." Troy sat on Sharpay's sofa and tucked his feet Indian style.
"No offense, Troy, but I'm kind of in a rush here. Why'd you call, and especially after so long?"
"Oh," he breathed out, forehead wrinkling. "I didn't meant to catch you a bad time. When can I call back?"
"Fourteen to Sixteen months."
He lost his grip somewhat on the phone. "What?"
"Man, I'm shipping out--to Iraq."
"You joined the military?" He nearly couldn't believe it. They'd been best friends for eighteen years and never once had he heard Chad expressed a want to join any branches of the armed services. "Why?"
"Couldn't get into college on my own. I didn't have your grades. I've jumped around a lot these past few years, working crappy jobs for crappy pay, and I just decided I want something more. Plus, my recruiter says I'm in to the State college of my choice once I finish my tour of duty."
He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach and he told Chad, "Take care of yourself, okay? I've known you since before I could walk. I don't want to have to come to your funeral. Don't get killed, don't get hurt."
"Dude, Troy, my cab won't be here for another fifteen minutes. Why'd you call? What's bothering you?"
"You can tell?" He smiled at the familiarity. "Why am I kidding? You've always been able to tell."
"So what is it?"
"Girl trouble, Chad, what else? I saw Gabriella yesterday. Man, I thought I was over her, but she's got me all twisted around, and I'm afraid there are still feeling floating around between us."
"As I remember it, you and Gabriella were pretty hot for a long time. We all thought the two of you were going to get married one day and have half a million cute kids. When you guys broke up we were all pretty shocked. Is it bad that there might be some feelings left over?"
Troy's eyes ghosted over to Sharpay's door. "Very, very bad, Chad. I'm already in a relationship, have been for almost a year. I love my girlfriend, and if I'm having feelings for Gabriella, that could royally screw with that relationship." Troy could hear Chad laughing.
"Life after Gabriella? She must be something special."
"So I need your advice. "I love my girlfriend, but I may still have serious feelings for Gabriella. It isn't fair to any of us if that's the case, and I don't know what to do."
"So you call me up after nearly three years to complain about being torn between two women? Dude, I can't even have a girlfriend right now without risking a 'dear John' letter. Sometimes life just isn't fair. Sure you love this girl friend of yours?"
"I love Sharpay more then I've ever loved anyone else." He barely registered his name flub as strong screeching came through the phone. "Did I mention I'm dating Sharpay Evans?"
"Have you completely lost your mind? Sharpay Evans? The devil's spawn? The conniving little witch who ruined several dozen lives all so she could win a stupid part in a musical?"
"Hey, watch it, okay? It isn't her fault. I've already been over this with Gabriella and I don't want to do it again. We're independent people, which means we make our own futures just as easily as we lose them. We're to blame, so don't push our decisions off on her, and don't call the woman I love a witch, please."
"I'm sorry, but sheesh, Sharpay? You take a basketball to the head? What could you possibly see in her?"
Troy sighed, "You don't have the time, okay? She makes me feel complete, and I love her, and if our friendship means anything, you'll respect that." There was a long pause and Troy wondered if the friendship was completely gone. He knew he was asking a lot of his friend who carried grudges longer then anyone else he'd ever met. "Chad?"
"I don't have to like it."
"Not at all."
"Good."
"So what do I do? I can't lose Sharpay, but I can't stay with her if my heart isn't wholly dedicated to her. I won't hurt her like that."
"You're going to have to be a man about this, Troy. It won't be pretty, or easy, or anything you want to do, but you have to find Gabriella and find out if you still love her, or even remotely like her. Don't just talk to her, find out if those feelings are deep enough to interrupt your current relationship. I can't deny I'm rooting for Gabriella, but dude, you have to do right by Sharpay. Find out any way you can if you have romantic feelings for her, physically, if necessary."
Wide eyed he asked, "You want to me go down to the hospital I saw her at, grab Gabriella and kiss her? And then mention that oh, by the way, that I may still love her? And while I'm at it I can just tell Sharpay that I'm having weird dreams about Gabriella and I getting married, and when I'm dreaming I'm happy? Shoving my tongue down Gabriella's throat just doesn't--" He paused, blood flushing icy cold. His eyes locked onto Sharpay's and he dropped the phone. "Sharpay." He climbed to his feet slowly, seeing her back up just as slowly.
"Gabriella?" She asked, eyes radiating a feeling of betrayal. Her hand was at her mouth moments later, almost as if she had to physically prevent herself from speaking any longer. She shook her head in sorrow and dashed back into her bedroom, slamming it loudly. The lock clicked soundly through the apartment.
Troy could hear Chad calling his name and he fished for the phone numbly. He mumbled, "I am so screwed," then ended the call and rushed after the woman he loved.