Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
A/N: So, that was a fun chapter. Not… Sorry this one took a little longer, I was busy all weekend. :D This chapter is less Troy puking and more Troy telling friends.
Oh, and I decided that the more chemo and the Gabi break down should come later. This is kind of a filler chapter.
Enjoy!
Troy's eyes snapped open as his hand flew to the bedside table. He groped for the alarm clock, gratefully hitting the snooze button and ending the piercing sound. He groaned as he looked up at the ceiling, chinks early morning sunlight coming through the partially closed blinds of the window.
"Troy, get up!" his mother called up the stairs, adding to the already agonizing headache that throbbed behind his temples.
"Coming," he called weakly. Getting out of bed, Troy stumbled out into the hall, walking blindly to the bathroom. He yanked open the medicine cabinet, groping for the bottle of painkillers. Unscrewing the lid, he tipped a few white pills into his hand, tossing them down with water from the sink.
"Troy, you don't want to be late for the first day of school!"
Troy groaned, reaching over to turn the shower on. He braced his hands on the side of the sink, looking into the mirror at his haggard reflection. His face was puffy, and his eyes were bloodshot. His hair had yet to go, but he knew it would be soon. Sighing, he brushed a hand over his eyes, walking over to the shower. Pulling off his pajama pants, he stepped in, letting the steamy water fall over his body, helping to alleviate his headache.
Popping open the cap to the shampoo, he squeezed a decent amount into his palm. Rubbing his hands together, he started to wash his hair. As he stepped back under the water, he noticed that a small clump of hair had gotten clogged in the shower drain.
"So it begins," he sighed heavily, staring at the latest reminder of the reality of his disease.
"Troy, finish up!" His mother had apparently gotten annoyed with his slowness, and was now outside the bathroom door, banging on it loudly.
"I'm coming, mom!" Shutting off the water, Troy pulled back the shower curtain and reached for a towel, wrapping it around the lower half of his body, yanking open the bathroom door.
"Hurry up, you're going to be late," his mother said, moving out of the way as he headed toward the stairs.
"Sorry," Troy muttered, squinting against the light in the hall.
"Troy? Are you-"
"Just a headache, mom."
"Did you take your meds?"
"Yes, mom, I took my meds. Leave me alone," Troy said, walking into his room and shutting the door behind him.
"Are you okay to drive?" Kellie asked, watching Troy as he walked to the pantry and bent down, pulling out a box of Cheerios.
"I'm fine, mom, it was just an early morning headache. I feel fine now." Troy replied, getting out a bowl and pouring cereal into it.
"But the meds-"
"Morning," Jack said, walking to the coffee pot and pouring himself a cup, sitting at the table with the newspaper.
"Morning," Troy replied, pouring milk over his cereal and sitting down across from his father, digging in with a spoon.
"Jack, do you think you could drive Troy to school today?" Kellie asked, sitting in between her husband and son.
"Mom, I already told you-"
"What's going on?" Jack asked, looking up from the paper.
"I had a headache this morning, I'm fine. Mom's just being her usually over protective self."
"Troy, you know what the painkillers can do, you shouldn't drive after you've taken them."
"Mom, you can watch me like a hawk at home, you can drag me to chemo, hell, you can even watch me sleep if it convinces you I'm not going to drop dead. But please, let me live like everyone else while I'm at school."
"Troy, it's only because I love you."
"Mom, please. I'm only asking this one thing."
"Troy-"
"Kellie, let him go."
Kellie looked incredulously at her husband. "What?"
"Let him go."
"Jack-"
"Thanks, dad," Troy said quickly, jumping up from the table and grabbing his keys off the counter. He kissed both of his parents on the cheek, and grabbed his backpack off the chair by the door.
"Welcome to the first day of senior year. Welcome to Orientation," Principal Matsui said, standing at the podium in front of the senior class. "This is one of the most important years of your life. College, graduation, planning for your futures-it all takes place this year." He paused, looking around at the students. "Which is why I want you all to know that slacking off will not be condoned. Do not hesitate to think that we will prevent any student who fools around from graduating in June."
Jason turned to Zeke, who was sitting next to him, and the two of them started laughing.
"Mr. Cross, I'm glad to see you've volunteered for detention after school," Matsui said, looking at the basketball player. "See me when we're finished here."
Jason stopped laughing, his face falling.
"Homeroom assignments are posted in the lobby, you're dismissed."
A buzz of voices filled the hall as students stood up, milling around and catching up with friends they hadn't seen all summer.
"Jason, man, that's gotta be a record," Zeke laughed, slapping his friend on the back. They had found their way over to Troy and Gabriella, who in turn were headed toward Chad and Taylor. "I mean, we haven't been in school for half an hour and you've already got detention. Nice job."
They all laughed, as Jason turned bright red.
"Yeah, I'll see you guys in homeroom," he said, headed toward the front of the room where Matsui was waiting for him.
"Troy! Gabi!"
They turned, catching sight of Sharpay striding over.
"We haven't seen you all summer!" she cried, hugging Troy, then Gabriella.
"I've-I've been busy," he said quietly, looking aside at Gabriella. He had forgotten that she, Chad, and Taylor were the only ones who knew about the cancer.
"Yeah, we were at basketball camp all summer," Chad bluffed, sensing his friend's discomfort.
"Oh. Well, tryouts for the fall play are Friday. Can't wait to see you there!" Sharpay said happily, bouncing away.
"Alright, now I know that was a lie," Zeke said to Chad, as the five of them walked toward the lobby.
"What are you talking about?" Chad said, looking uncomfortably at him.
"Alright, I'll play along for now," Zeke said dubiously, missing the flash of pain that crossed Troy's face.
They reached the bulleting board and scanned the lists of twelfth grade homerooms, searching for their names.
"Darbus again," Gabriella groaned, looking at Troy.
"I think we've all got Darbus again," Zeke said, smiling. "Drama room."
He turned, walking in the direction of the drama room.
"You guys coming?"
"Yeah, in a minute," Troy replied, leaning against the wall.
"You okay?" Chad asked, looking concernedly at his friend.
"Yeah, give me a minute. You guys go on."
Chad and Taylor nodded, walking arm in arm down the hall. Gabriella sighed, reaching out to touch Troy's shoulder.
"Troy?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed."
"Do you want to go to the nurse?"
"No. I'm fine, I just need a minute."
Gabriella nodded, taking Troy's hand in hers, locking her fingers protectively in his.
"What's your schedule?" Jason asked, pulling Troy's paper from his hands as he stuffed his mouth with sandwich. They were sitting in the cafeteria, eating lunch. Jason was sitting by Kelsi, Sharpay by Zeke, Troy by Gabriella, Chad by Taylor, and Ryan was kind of in the middle.
"AP Chem? Geez, when did you get smart?" he asked, throwing the paper back at his friend and snatching someone else's.
"Jason, that was my schedule," Gabriella said, laughing. She placed the paper back into her stack of books, taking a bite of her own sandwich.
"Oh."
"What are you taking?" Kelsi asked, looking over Jason's shoulder at his schedule. She burst out laughing, putting the soda in her hand back on the table. "Drama 1? You are taking Drama?"
Jason turned red, flipping his paper over so no one could see it.
"I figured if Troy could do it, I could," he said sheepishly, eliciting laughs from everyone at the table, excluding Troy, who smiled half-heartedly.
"Troy?" Gabriella asked, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"I'm fine," he said, closing his eyes. He dug in his pocket, coming up with the bottle of painkillers. He popped a few into his hand and swallowed them, much to the surprise of everyone else.
"Troy? What-" Jason began, pulling the bottle from his friend's hands. "These are like, industrial strength. Why-"
Troy sighed. "There's something I need to tell all of you."
He looked at each one of them, not missing the concerned looks everyone gave him.
"I-I have cancer."
A/N: I didn't care for that chapter. But it had to be done. Ew. Anyway, reviews greatly appreciated, as always!
Coming in Chapter 8: The chapter in which Troy pukes all over Gabi, Gabi throws a glass at the wall, and Jason sings to cheer Troy up!