Thank you to everyone who read or left kudos for the last chapter. We are still dealing with the fallout from the breakup but were also moving forward. While Chad is eating chocolate-covered strawberries off of Sharpay's stomach, let's check on everyone else.
I would say about 75% of this chapter is new material. This chapter begins with some text messages from Ryan to Taylor. Keep an eye on the timestamps. They start soon after Taylor's last angry message and continue on throughout the evening.
Once again, the title comes from the LINKIN PARK song Waiting for the End. This is the last chapter in this arc. We made it.
Chapter 17: I know what it takes to move on
October 10, 2008 3:35 PM
Ryan: I deserve that.
Ryan: I'm sorry. This isn't how I wanted you to find out what was going on. I know you don't want to believe me, but nobody wanted to hurt you.
Ryan: I get that you're mad at me and everyone else. You have a right to be. You probably think that I was on my sister's side or Chad side. But I've been advocating for you this entire time. You deserve better than this.
Ryan: You probably don't believe me, and that's fine. But when you're ready to talk, I'll be here to listen.
Ryan: Again, I'm sorry.
XXXX
4:05 pm
Ryan: Nikki is live texting me and sending me pictures of your destruction of Evans hall. Again, I'm sorry.
Ryan: I get why you just threw bleach on Sharpay's entire fall wardrobe and threw all her bras out the window. It's not like I haven't been tempted before. The situation isn't black-and-white.
Ryan: There isn't a bad guy in this. I know it's easier to blame everything on Sharpay, but mistakes were made by many people, even me.
Ryan: I'm sorry about that, I really am. When you're ready, I'm here to talk, or you can just scream at me. I feel like I deserve it.
Ryan: Also, an excellent chocolate and champagne gift basket will be waiting for you. Hopefully, Tatiana will not get in the box. I hate your roommate.
Ryan: I know it's not going to make up for what happened. No one wanted to hurt you. I did not want to hurt you. I knew this was coming. I knew it before Chad did.
Ryan: I was surprised when he told me that you two would try to do a long-distance relationship. Honestly, I felt like you two were already going through the motions even before the school year ended.
Ryan: I really shouldn't say that right now. I know you don't want to hear it. This is not the time for I told you so.
Ryan: I knew I should've come down to New Mexico like I wanted midterms, be damned. It would've gone better if I was there. At a minimum, I could have kept you from using Sharpay's computer. Or could have smack Chad upside the head when he started to stall. Again mistakes were made.
Ryan: Although I am a little annoyed at you for calling my sister about six different synonyms for a prostitute. Really, she hasn't had sex with Chad by any definition of the word. That was out of respect for you.
Ryan: You probably don't believe that, but it's true.
Ryan: Also, every single rumor you heard about my sister's sexual promiscuity was a lie. Especially if Malick was responsible for said rumors. I want to rip his dick off.
Ryan: Zeke fucked Penelope because my sister wouldn't put out. So again, don't believe everything you hear from the rumor mill. The truth rarely makes the rounds.
Ryan: BTW Zeke told Chad to fuck Penelope behind your back. They're not friends anymore for that reason.
XXXX
5: 43 pm
Ryan: Troy sent me a text. He says you're OK and safe with Kim right now. That makes me feel a little bit better.
Ryan: Kim is suitable for these sorts of things. She was who I went to when I was rejected by my crush the summer between junior and senior year. Kim made me realize it wasn't my fault. She also made me realize that friendship is not a consolation prize.
Ryan: Let's just say that I'm glad we were only ever friends on a day like today. OK, friends that made out once.
Ryan: Now, I know I was rejected because his parents were getting a divorce, and he was having an emotional freak-out because of that. He wasn't ready to add coming out on top of that. Kim helped me work through that, and I think that she'll help you work through this.
Ryan: Kim is much better at helping other people work for their shit then working through her own shit, but I blame that on her mom. Bitch is one of the nicer things you can say about the woman.
XXXX
6:09 pm
Ryan: Troy told me that he did not mention my involvement in this catastrophe when he tried to explain to you how Chad and Sharpay got together. But I feel like you need to know the truth. I'm the reason that this whole thing started.
Ryan: The only reason Chad had the brilliant idea to block Penelope's advances by faking a relationship with Sharpay was because I put the idea in his head.
Ryan: You know I hate being away from Sharpay. This is the first time we've ever lived apart. I wanted Chad to keep an eye on Sharpay for me. But it would be hard to do that if they were in different buildings.
Ryan: My dad was not inclined to do any special favors for my best friend. However, I discovered he was willing to do that for someone that Sharpay or I was dating. So, I lied to my father and told him that Chad was Sharpay's new boyfriend.
Ryan: Considering what a piece of shit Richard and Zeke were, my dad was very excited for a non-awful boyfriend.
Ryan: From there, the two idiots decided to play along until it became apparent to all involved that there was no actual acting involved. To everyone but them, that is. It took a while for the two idiots to get a clue.
Ryan: Actually, Kim had to make the PowerPoint you saw. They're stupid, —100% idiots. You deserve so much better.
Ryan: Sorry, my dad is calling. I have to go.
XXXX
7:03 pm
Ryan: I had to tell dad the truth. He is not happy with me for lying. Although he's glad, it worked out in the end because he still likes Chad. Zeke and Richard set the bar low.
Ryan: Actually, even though several thousand dollars' in damage happened to Evans Hall during the breakup, Chad is still my dad's favorite Sharpay boyfriend. Although he's not very happy with Chad's inability to break up properly.
Ryan: Would you be happy to know I'm being punished for lying? There will definitely be no black card Thanksgiving for me. That money is now going into the restoration of Evans Hall fund.
XXXX
8:45 pm
Ryan: I also spent the last few hours trying to convince my dad not to turn you over to Yale's judiciaries with Sharpay. Chad's mom is actually helping. She is on your side in this.
Ryan: Carolyn thinks her son is a fucking idiot, but at least you didn't walk in on him having sex with Sharpay.
Ryan: I now know more about why Chad's parents divorced then I think Chad knows.
Ryan: Thank God Shar was off the call by that point. I feel horrible about that.
Ryan: It involves somebody we went to high school with named Tiffany, and Charles is bringing her for Thanksgiving. But he's too much of a coward to tell Chad that and wants Carolyn to do it. Apparently, the coward behavior is genetic.
Ryan: Although I don't want to tell Chad either. Charles should grow the fuck up.
Ryan: You may want to make alternative plans for Thanksgiving. Expect fireworks.
Ryan: I would invite you to New York, but I am not 100% sure you'll be speaking to me by then.
Ryan: Also, I may be grounded. I'm almost 19, but Vince reserves the right to punish me until I am completely financially independent. Fingers crossed, I actually achieve financial independence and not become a starving artist.
Ryan: So, to reiterate, I'm really sorry. I wish this didn't happen to you. Please text me back. Just let me know you're okay-ish.
Ryan: I know you're not OK. This was a hard day for you, and I'm sorry I made it worse.
XXXX
11:01 pm.
Taylor: I'm texting you back now, so maybe there is some hope things might be better between us by Thanksgiving. Or perhaps I'm doing it now because it's after 1 am where you are, and I assume you are asleep.
Taylor: Also, as usual, Gabriella can't even be bothered to return my calls or text messages. She's probably doing Jell-O shots with Mercedes.
Taylor: So sorry I'm going to rant to you in a text message form. Then hopefully, by the time you read this, I will be asleep. The wine will have to kick in eventually. I'm about three glasses and two pints of chunky monkey in for the night.
Taylor: I hope, at least. I have yet to get used to the two-hour time difference, which may be another thing contributing to my lackluster performance.
Taylor: Thank you for trying to keep me from judiciaries. It's nice to know I have one friend even though I wasn't very kind to you this afternoon. I'm sorry.
Taylor: It's also nice to know that Chad's mom is on my side.
Taylor: I'm not even surprised about Charles. He hit on me once, and I never told Chad. Yes, Charles should be the one to tell Chad the truth.
Taylor: Wait, I can go to judiciaries for something I did at another school?
Taylor: Don't answer that. I'm not sure I want to know.
October 11, 2008 12:02 AM
Taylor: Thanks to insomnia, I just googled it. I really can get in serious trouble at my school for what I did at U of A. Thank you for trying to help in that regard.
Taylor: I don't know what to think about your sister advocating to keep me from getting in serious trouble. It's just another piece of evidence confirming she's not who I thought she was. That's been one of the hardest things to accept during the last few hours.
Taylor: Everything I thought I knew was wrong. As somebody who prides herself on knowing everything that sucks. I despise ignorance even in myself.
Taylor: I've made a lot of bad choices in the last few hours.
Taylor: I almost hit Jason. The only thing that kept it from happening was your sister. She kept me from making a horrible mistake.
Taylor: I can't even face Jason right now. I think that's why I'm staying here even though Kim is hiding from me.
Taylor: I may have asked her exactly when she dated Troy when I found out she's Alex's mom.
Taylor: Did you know that Kim and Troy dated in high school? Apparently, that's another thing I missed in addition to my ex-boyfriend being a super genius and bisexual-ish.
Ryan: No one knew they were together during Troy's sophomore year, not even Chad and Sharpay, the respective best friends. I think Chad has settled on Demisexual with no gender preference, but I might borrow bisexual-ish. I lean more towards guys, but I'm with Kelsi.
Taylor: Does Troy know that he has a 19-month-old son with his ex-girlfriend?
Ryan: No. Kim is planning to tell him during Thanksgiving, which is the other reason why I would really like you in New York even if you're not speaking to me. You had enough drama for the year.
Taylor: This is true. Shouldn't you be sleeping right now? Also, I feel like I owe you an apology more than you owe me one.
Ryan: No, you don't. I'm still up because I can't sleep. Too much going on. Also, congratulations on seeing the obvious. Even Sharpay hasn't figured it out yet, and Alex has Troy's eyes and food allergies. She will go nuclear when she finds out her best friend was with her crush and never bothered to tell her.
Taylor: I'm definitely not clueing her in. I'm not entirely sure I want front row seats for that confession. Although it's nice to know I wasn't completely oblivious to everything. You think I would've realized that my boyfriend wasn't sexually attracted to me.
Ryan: That wasn't your fault. You didn't have the entire picture. Also, I don't think Chad understood what was going on either. He didn't know there was some other option outside of gay, straight, bisexual until a couple of weeks ago. I had to send him a book. The gray sexuality stuff was an eye-opener for him.
Taylor: I didn't have the complete picture because Chad didn't want me to have it. Just that fact alone meant things were doomed from the beginning.
Taylor: He was with me, so people would stop asking questions about why he wasn't chasing after cheerleaders anymore. He couldn't tell anybody about Jamie. He's still afraid to.
Taylor: Then he met this really hot boy at Lava Springs but stayed with me because it was easier than coming out as not heterosexual. I was a safe place. I don't know whether to be happy that he was so comfortable with me or not because Chad subconsciously made me his beard.
Ryan: So, you and Chad actually had a chance to talk?
Ryan: Did he tell you the name of that boy at Lava Springs?
Taylor: I don't have a name on the hot boy of Lava Springs. Apparently, he's a friend of your sisters, though, that narrows it down. Don't tell me if you know who. I'm better off not knowing.
Ryan: I won't.
Taylor: The other reason why Chad didn't want to date him was Chad didn't want to upset Sharpay.
Taylor: I'm still not ready to talk to Chad yet. There's still a chance I might throw something even if it's just by phone. I don't think my parents would be up to replacing my cell phone right now. My mom is going to kill me in the morning. Let's put this way, I chose to respond to your text messages before hers. You also have less cursing.
Ryan: Good to know I was the easy person to talk to. So how do you know all this stuff?
Taylor: I watched some video files for their film project midterm.
Ryan: Sharpay told me about that. They ended up with When Harry met Sally. Apparently, they're going to recreate the interview section.
Taylor: So, after raiding the chocolate and wine supply at Kim's house, I started watching the raw footage of your sister and Chad talk about how they came together. There was also a video of your drunk sister giving Chad a topless lap dance and him tucking her into bed. Which made me feel a little better.
Ryan: That was because Penelope spiked Sharpay's drink. I'm a little worried you're a bit masochistic. I told Kim never to send me that video. There are some things I never want to see.
Ryan: Although your text messages have mostly been coherent, so I don't think you've had that much wine.
Taylor: It was cathartic. I'm still only three glasses in, which is why it was cathartic. Especially the clip that's not going to end up in the video. At least things really didn't fall apart because he fell in love with someone else.
Taylor: Apparently, star basketball players can't be out even if they want to be.
Ryan: Basketball camp 2006?
Taylor: Kim called it Chad's Queer awakening in the video. To me, it's the story of the first love I didn't know about. The one I was competing against and had no idea.
Ryan: Chad said he didn't fall in love with Jamie.
Taylor: He was more in love with Jamie than he was ever in love with me. Maybe he couldn't love me because of how badly things ended up. First love always hurts the most even if, in retrospect, it was just infatuation. I'm starting to realize I may not know what love really is. Chad was right. I didn't know him enough to actually love him.
Ryan: I'm sorry.
Taylor: It's not your fault I fell in love with the idea of a person instead of an actual person. I learned more about Chad watching those video files than during our entire relationship. That's just sad.
Ryan: I'm still sorry.
Taylor: So am I. All of this made me realize I never saw Chad beyond the façade. Honestly, Ryan, that hurt more than the fact that he fell in love with Sharpay so easily.
Ryan: I don't think it was easy. He was fighting it the entire time. Chad didn't want to hurt you.
Taylor: I saw that. I know your sister didn't want to either. It still happened regardless.
Ryan: No one wanted this to happen.
Taylor: I know, but you rarely get what you want in life.
Taylor: I think that being a pill of the night was realizing Sharpay isn't who I thought she was. It would be so much easier to deal with if I could paint her as the bad guy like we did in high school. It's so much easier to deal with things we don't have to take responsibility at all.
Ryan: It's always easier to blame the home-wrecking harlot.
Taylor: Did I actually say something like that at some point?
Ryan: Nikki live texted me the entire incident at Evans Hall. She is Amanda's friend with the purple hair. That was one of the nicer things you said.
Ryan: I'll send you screenshots of the conversation later. You apparently owe Jason $35 for the swear jar, and he's planning to collect. Honestly, I'm surprised the total was that low.
Taylor: That seems fair.
Taylor: Screenshots may be useful because everything was blurry after I looked at the PowerPoint. I think there's a good chance I had a rage blackout. I don't really remember much of anything until Chad showed up.
Ryan: That seems understandable. I forgive you for calling my sister a slut multiple times.
Taylor: I am very sorry for saying that and, more importantly, believing it. I shouldn't have listened to the locker room rumors, especially everything related to Richard Malick. I have to apologize to her alone for that. Eventually, when I feel like I can be in a room with her.
Taylor: I'm still angry. It turns out you can feel empathy and anger towards a person simultaneously.
Ryan: Did the video mention what Richard did to her?
Taylor: She does talk about the sexual assault after the spring dance. Which you obviously knew about because you want to rip off his dick. So do I.
Taylor: I had to take a shower after watching that. I thought Malick was a great guy. I actually had a crush on him during my sophomore year and was jealous he was with your sister. I was an idiot.
Ryan: I threw up after she told me. I'm glad the microphone on the phone didn't pick it up.
Taylor: When did she tell you?
Ryan: Only a couple of weeks ago after she prevented Kerri Jackson from meeting a similar fate. I don't think she would have ever told me if Chad wasn't there. She actually told him first.
Taylor: I'm sorry.
Ryan: Don't apologize. I should be apologizing to you. This all started because of me.
Taylor: No, it didn't. At worst, you were a catalyst. This was always going to fall apart. If it wasn't for you, it would have been something else. Chad and I were going to break up eventually regardless of Sharpay.
Taylor: Honestly, I think you giving Chad that book on sexual orientations did more damage than the lie to your dad. It forced him to take a closer look at himself and our relationship.
Ryan: I'm still sorry that you got hurt in all this. I didn't want it to end up this way.
Taylor: I know. We all have regrets. I really wish I didn't take a baseball bat to a plasma TV this afternoon. I only know about that because Kim showed me pictures on the car ride here.
Ryan: So many mistakes were made. So what happens now?
Taylor: I'm not even sure where to start. Maybe an apology? I know I owe one to Jason. And to most of the residence of Evans Hall, if pictures are to be believed. I think I broke most of the furniture in the common room.
Ryan: That's always a good place to start if you mean it.
Taylor: Trust me, I'm sorry about a lot of things right now. Unfortunately, you're my easy conversation. Jason might be next. I don't even know where to start with your sister and Chad. I'm not ready to talk to either of them even though I know I need to.
Ryan: Not even in an email or text message?
Taylor: Text messages are definitely out. I think I only texted you because I thought you wouldn't respond until morning.
Taylor: I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I shouldn't have opened that file.
Ryan: I don't know if it would have gone better if you didn't. Chad has been freaking out about this conversation with you for the last three weeks. I don't think there's any way it could have went well.
Taylor: Only if it was prerecorded, and I was several states away at the time.
Ryan: Maybe we should have suggested that Chad send you some of the footage from his project.
Taylor: That would've been better than being accosted by Sharpay's bra in the common room.
Ryan: I agree mainly because, according to Nikki, you threw the rest of her underwear out the window. It all landed on Malick's head. She has pictures. Thankfully, Penelope took it all from him. Nikki said she even brought it back upstairs to the room. She is Penelope's roommate.
Ryan: She also sent me a video of her explaining the true story of how my sister ended up with Chad to Penelope. It's hilarious but not something you're ready to see just quite yet. Let's just say Penelope was not happy that she accidentally set up Chad and Sharpay.
Taylor: I'm glad I hit the idiot. Too bad it wasn't something harder.
Ryan: I have to screenshot that for Sharpay. I'll add it to the video.
Ryan: Wait, that's it
Taylor: What's it?
Ryan: Make a video. Let them know what you're really thinking.
Taylor: It would probably be more productive than a phone call.
Ryan: I don't know. This text message conversation has been very productive.
Taylor: Because it's you. I'm not mad at you.
Taylor: Chad and your sister are a different matter entirely. There's a lot of complicated emotions there right now. I'm trying to find a different way to articulate them outside of causing more property damage.
Ryan: That's good to know.
Ryan: You should try to get some sleep.
Taylor: So should you. You're not going to try for sunrise yoga tomorrow, are you?
Ryan: No.
Ryan: I have a rehearsal later in the day for midterms. The first thing scheduled for the day is brunch with Kelsi. So at least I will be able to sleep in.
Taylor: She invited Natasha, didn't she?
Ryan: Yes. There are just friends.
Taylor: And I thought that about Chad and Sharpay. I was wrong. When you're ready, I'll be here for you. OK?
Ryan: Thank you.
XXXXX
October 11, 2008, 9:11 am
After dropping Taylor off at her parents' house this morning, Kim was ready to get her son back from Uncle Chad and Auntie Sharpay. At least Taylor was a lot calmer on the ride to her parents' house this morning. Apparently, she had a late-night text message session with Ryan that helped. Along with at least one bottle of wine and 2 pints of chunky monkey.
After knocking on the door for a good 5 minutes without getting an answer, she used the key Sharpay gave her a few weeks ago to get into the house. Kim slowly made her way upstairs to Sharpay's room. She slowly opened the door and was thankful to see that the two were still wearing clothing. Well, they were wearing clothing if you consider black lace lingerie and silk boxer shorts to be clothing. Kim noticed Chad start to wake up.
"Go back to sleep. I just came to pick up Alex."
"I've been up for the last hour. Let me help you get everything downstairs," Chad said, untangling himself from Sharpay and grabbing his clothing from the closet. 10 minutes later, Chad was helping Kim get Alex into his car seat.
"How is Taylor this morning?" Chad asked, genuinely concerned.
"Slightly less likely to kill you. I think it helped to let her watch the interviews for our film project. Along with her spending half of the night text messaging Ryan."
"At least I didn't screw up that relationship." Chad sighed.
"I think she understands more of what happened now. Especially because I let her watch the Jamie stuff. I don't think she will be able to forgive you for a while, but I think she'll get there eventually." Kim told him honestly.
"I should have just listened to everybody when they told me to do this over the phone. The situation just got out of hand."
"No one knew she was going to blow up like that. I really regret making that PowerPoint."
"I blame Ginger finding Sharpay's bra more than anything else."
"You have a point. Regardless, I think you're right; it's better to get things out now. That's why the Thanksgiving confession has been moved a little bit. Besides, in the last 24 hours, two more people have figured out Alex's paternity."
"That's not good. Who else other than Coach Grandpa? Obviously not Sharpay because she wasn't screaming at you." Chad asked. "By the way, you should tell Sharpay sooner rather than later."
"On the way here, Taylor implored me to tell Troy the truth. She figured it out, and Ryan confirmed it." Kim sighed, frustrated. She can't really blame Ryan because Taylor figured it out all on her own.
"If she tells Gabriella about her boyfriend having a kid with someone else…" Chad started to say.
"It will make the blow up in your dorm room look like a tantrum over a candy bar. So far, Taylor promised not to tell Gabriella, but you never know. I need to tell him now."
"Do you want me to be there when you tell him?" Chad asked.
"This is something I have to do on my own. I've been putting this call off for more than two years. I think it's time I act like a grownup." Kim said as she got into the front seat of the car.
"Call me after you tell him," Chad leaned over to hug her.
"He'll probably call you first," Kim said as Chad pulled away from the hug.
"Probably." It was the last thing Kim heard as she pulled out of the driveway.
XXXX
Several hours later
After surviving the torture test known as shopping with Sharpay, they arrived back at the dorms with replacements for almost everything Taylor destroyed the day before. After watching Sharpay coming out of the dressing room in the skimpiest outfits imaginable, he realized she was playing with him. It was probably her revenge for losing most of her closet at school.
Not that shopping with Sharpay did not have some exciting fringe benefits. Like the fact, they redid the dressing room incident when they ran into Richard and his new girlfriend Penelope at Modern Style. He took great pleasure in the fact that all of Sharpay's moans were real this time, even though they were still just pretending they were having sex in the dressing room. It didn't bother him that they were now banned from the store for "inappropriate behavior." The look on Richard and Penelope's face was priceless. He was so happy that Sharpay got a shot of it with her phone.
"So did you two have fun while the rest of us cleaned up this mess?" Amanda asked as they walked into the now clean room. "The cleanup crew did a real good job. There was no evidence of Taylor having a nervous breakdown/'rage blackout' ."
"Hey, I did pay for the cleaning crew and managed to keep us all from going to judiciaries," Sharpay argued.
"Thank you for that. One infraction of this magnitude, and I would have been off the cheerleading squad."
"I also brought you a gift," Sharpay said, pulling a card from her purse. "I got you a visa gift card to replace what Taylor destroyed. I know that Taylor destroyed some of your things, and unlikely me, you don't have easy access to daddy's credit card." Chad knew that Amanda couldn't afford to replace the stuff that Taylor destroyed. Amanda's family could barely afford to send Amanda to school even with all of her scholarships.
"You don't have to. This was mostly my fault. I am the one who gave Taylor access to Sharpay's computer. That's how she found out that you two were together. I warned you about that Thursday, and I'm the idiot who let her see the pictures."
"She probably would have figured it out anyway when Ginger started throwing my bra around. Taylor wouldn't have found anything to be mad about if I didn't make out with her boyfriend while they were still technically together. So take the gift card." Sharpay said, handing the gift card to Amanda.
"Do you promise to cut down on the expensive gifts?" Amanda asked exasperated.
"You know she's not able to do that, especially because you don't expect expensive gifts," Chad said as he sat down on Sharpay's naked bed. They forgot to get the practical stuff like linens. They would have to go out again later today to get replacements. He noticed a DVD sitting on the bed.
"Taylor dropped it off a couple of hours ago after she apologized for taking a baseball bat to the plasma. I really miss that television." Amanda said with a smile at the couple. "Although she did bring us cookies."
"The new one will arrive Tuesday along with the replacement TV for Chad's room," Sharpay said to Amanda.
"You may want the plasma in Chad's room since Blaise is gone."
"How did that happen?" Sharpay asked Amanda.
"I've been trying to get him out for weeks. " Chad said in a mix of happiness and shock.
"After you left Chad, Lisa and one of the campus security officers witnessed the two idiots engaging in an 'intimate moment' in the study room. After all the damage done to the floor, Lisa was out for blood. Adding this to the fact that Ginger and Blaise's fight trigger Taylor's rampage, Lisa used the incident to get him kicked out of the building."
"At least something good came out of this nightmare," Sharpay said quietly.
"Yes, you two can have your sleepovers in his room. I am so not looking forward to walking in the room to see his curly head, between your legs." Amanda said with a laugh as Sharpay through one of the remaining pillows at her.
XXxxx
Same Time at Berkeley
Troy spent most of Saturday afternoon in the library getting ready for midterms in a few days. He thought about how years later, he still used Kim's study techniques. If it was not for her, he wouldn't even have a GPA high enough to qualify for Berkeley. The irony wasn't lost on him. He thinks about her a lot more now.
At 5:00 pm, he gave up on trying to study. He could not focus on his chemistry with thoughts of yesterday showdown and his possible fatherhood running through his head. He decided to check his email. Maybe, someone sent him footage from yesterday's catastrophe. Ryan promised him screenshots of the live texting from Nikki. Even though he had new friends here, he missed his old ones, especially Kim and Chad. When Troy found a video file from Kim. He instantly opened it up and pressed play.
"I probably should have at the very least done this as a live webchat. But I've never been one for confrontation. It's just easier for me to do this in a video. I probably should have told you this two years ago. I was just too scared. It was easier for me to keep everything to myself and let you keep your childhood. Maybe I made the wrong choice. I don't know. It's a little too late to do the right thing now. Just know that I love you. I always have and always will even if you hate me right now."
"I'll never hate you," Troy whispered at the screen.
"I had a really long conversation with your dad yesterday about how my leaving affected you. At the time, I really believed I did the right thing. Your mom made me so screwed up I actually believed you really didn't love me. I know better now. That is why I left for New York and didn't tell you. I left a trail just in case you wanted to find me. But I guess my departure left you unwilling to look."
The truth of the matter was Troy did not even think to look. He wished he had now. However, as Kim said, it was a little too late to do the right thing now. She was in New Mexico, and he was with Gabriella. Instead, he continued to watch the video.
"A few weeks after I started classes at the University of Manhattan, I found out I was three months pregnant. I was absolutely terrified and completely alone. My mom hated me. Zhēn tried very hard to get me to get rid of Alex. I recently started to redevelop my relationship with my dad, and it's still very complicated. I tried to contact you a thousand times to tell you. At first, it was because I didn't have your number. That's a silly excuse because I got it so easily from Ryan."
"And I will hug Ryan next time I see him for that," Troy mumbled to himself.
"The truth is I was always too scared to tell you. I was afraid I would find out you never really loved me. That those cruel things your mother said to me were true. I know better now."
Kim never explicitly said that Alex was his. She didn't have to. He knew three weeks ago when Sharpay texted Troy a picture of Chad, Kim, and Alex at pizza village. Although in her text message yesterday, Kim did accidentally refer to Alex as their child. This was Just confirmation of his suspicions.
On the screen, he noticed Kim grabbed a toddler and place him in her lap. "Anyway, this is your son Alexander Kim. Ironically enough, he was born on January 19, 2007, the day of the championship game junior year. Your kid has fabulous timing. After you recover from the initial shock, please call. I think we have a lot to talk about." That was the understatement of the millennium.
"Just so you know, he's always known that you were his dad. I know you hate me for leaving and keeping this from you. Know that I love you and never stopped." That is when the screen went black. His only thought was he could never hate her. How can you hate the love of your life and the mother of your child?
XXXX
After the second round of shopping, this time with Amanda, which meant no more fun in dressing rooms, they finally arrive back at the dorms around 10 pm. Taking Amanda's not very subtle hint, Sharpay decided to spend the night with her boyfriend in his room. Marc and Nikki left Chad congratulations on coming out balloons. They were sitting in the middle of the room when they arrived back.
Even though Taylor did not completely destroy Chad's basketball bed set, Sharpay took the opportunity to replace the horrible thing. There's no way she was sleeping on basketball sheets again. Instead, she replaced it with a dark blue set that was silky to the touch. Now sitting with him on the bed, Sharpay felt contented with his arms firmly around her in one of his tee shirts. Unfortunately, Chad also had Taylor's DVD in his hand.
"You know we need to watch what she said," Chad said, kissing her neck softly.
"I just don't want to hear her say I hate you or that I'm some horrible bitch again."
"You are not any of those things," he said, putting another kiss on her shoulder. "Ryan said that she's calmed down a bit, and she regrets a lot of the things she said to you yesterday."
With Ryan's endorsement, she got the courage to put the disc in her computer and press play.
"I guess I should start with this with I am still mad at you." The Taylor on the screen said. That's not surprising considering Sharpay was mad at herself. "However, not for the fact that you were cheating on me. OK, I am a little upset about the emotional cheating. The fact that you fell in love with someone else so easily is painful." Sharpay held Chad tighter at this moment.
"I understand why now. I just wished you would have told me, instead of me finding out the way I did. I should've known about Jamie a long time ago along with hot boy Lava Springs." Sharpay paused the video up.
"Kim may have interrogated me about Jamie and Ryan. Thankfully for all involved, I only referred to your brother as the hot boy at Lava Springs and a friend of yours. I'll have Kim send you the footage later." Chad explained.
"Ryan is one of my best friends," Sharpay said, pressing the play button again.
"I get why a lot of this was hard for you to tell me or anyone else. However, Chad, you could have sent me one of those video files I watched that Kim's last night. That would have been better than the PowerPoint and the bra thing with Blase and Ginger."
"I am so glad they're gone," Chad remarked, and Sharpay just nodded her head. Now she can have sleepovers with Chad without putting Amanda out.
"Although after speaking to my parents and finding out the real way they got together, I should be happy I didn't catch you and Sharpay sleeping together. I should be thankful for small favors."
"I didn't want to know more about that story," Chad remarked.
"You do not. Trust me." Chad raised an eyebrow at her, but Sharpay refused to explain.
"I'm upset about the fact you were right—Both of you. Sharpay, you were right when you said I didn't know Chad. I definitely did not know him the way you do. I know you care about him a lot. At least I lost him to someone who cares about him as much as I did. However, you care about the real person, not the illusion as I did. I am also sorry I said all those nasty things about you. I should have known they weren't true, but I believe the gossip like everyone else. I'm sorry about the situation that triggered those rumors. No one deserves that."
"You talked about Richard during your video?" Chad asked, pausing the video.
"I need the whole truth out there. I'm tired of being quiet about it. Besides, the professor should know that there's a rapist in class."
"This is true," Chad remarked as he pressed play again.
"Chad, I'm sorry I never got to know you. After watching your confessions on film, I think you would be a cool person to know. Maybe in a few months, we can try to be friends. Just give me time. You'll probably see me this summer working off my debt to Sharpay's father at Lava Springs." Chad gave Sharpay a look, but she said nothing.
"Sharpay, please thank your father for not reporting me to Yale's Judiciary Committee. Do you know that most universities have agreements that if you do something terrible at one school, you can be punished at your school? Anyway, I am sorry for being a bit psychotic yesterday." With that, the video faded to black, and Chad and Sharpay stayed quiet for a moment.
"You convinced your father not to have this report to Yale."
"So did Ryan. And your mom, for that matter. It was a joint effort. Taylor most likely would have got expelled for what she did. She is still being punished. But now its community service and anger management counseling. This was a more useful punishment," before she could finish, Sharpay felt his mouth on hers as her back slowly made contact with the new silky sheets.
"This is why I love you. You are the most wonderful person in the world, Sharpay Evans." Before she could take in his words, she felt his mouth on hers once more. She really did not think about anything else that night.
To be continued.
Congratulations, you have survived the breakup arc. Now, it's time for midterms and a bit of fall out.
We will be going back to weekly updates for the moment. However, I might reconsider biweekly updates when we get to the Thanksgiving week arc. I'm not even halfway through rewriting it, and I'm expecting it to be at least 15 chapters. So it might be better to get through that quickly. It all depends on how fast I can get through the rewrites. Remember, an encouraged writer is a writer that works faster.