Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter. This begins the Thanksgiving arc of this story. If you thought the breakup arc was big, the Thanksgiving break arc is 20+ chapters long. This is partially because I integrated some of the pieces from my companion story Gabriella Ryan Taylor Manhattan. That story was originally 40,000 words on its own.

Although I only kept the parts, I really liked. Which isn't as much as I thought it would be. A lot of that story has gone in the trash, including the entire first chapter. Very little of it is usable in the new version. I feel like I've done a better job of preparing you for what's to come. I hope I did, anyway.

The other reason why this arc is now so long is the first time around, I rushed through many things. My characters were dealing with very serious issues, and I just glossed over that. I didn't quite understand the importance of character development when I was a baby writer. I hope I did better this time around.

Chapter 31: Welcome Home Troy Bolton

Afternoon November 22, 2008

Madison: Good news. I have successfully convinced Gabriella to take Ryan's invitation to go to New York. It helped that he is sending her a first-class ticket. Even Mercedes told her not to turn down a first-class ticket anywhere.

Troy: That was actually Ryan's dad; he is the sponsor of this intervention. I'll tell Maria. She'll be happy.

Madison: BTW, Mercedes is actually trying to get Gabriella to stay away from you for reasons only known to Mercedes. However, that attempt ended up with Gabriella at your dorm room in a trenchcoat.

Troy: How did that happen?

Madison: I'm not entirely sure. Mercedes told her to let go and look for someone new in Colorado but may have said, "look at this point, the only way you'll get Troy back is to show up in his dorm room naked in a trenchcoat. You have to move on."

Madison: In Gabriella's alcohol-drenched mind, she took that literally. This leads to me driving all the way over to Berkeley to pick up your ex-girlfriend from residence life.

Troy: Thank you for that.

Madison: It's what sorority sisters do even when you have somebody crying in your car. She realizes she fucked up. At some point, she wondered if she should listen to Mercedes when she said not to take her meds anymore. Although that's about when she finished her little flask. I couldn't get her to tell me what medication, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's in the Prozac family.

Troy: Shit. That will have to be mention to Maria even though I don't know what the medication is. I made it worse.

Madison: Gabriella's problems are not your fault; that's something she needs to work through. Especially when she won't tell you what's wrong. This breakup was for the best, mainly because you ended up sleeping with your ex-girlfriend the moment you saw her.

Troy: Not at the exact moment I saw her. Also, I hug my baby first.

Madison: My Chad sent me pictures from the airport. Your kid is cute and all, but that was some kiss.

Troy: That is such a Chad thing to do. Although I don't think I would have slept with her if I was still with Gabriella.

Madison: I'm trying to decide which primitive emoji best captures I rolling. I need a new phone.

Troy: Kim has been trying to figure out what to get you for Christmas. She's planning to spread the trust fun wealth.

Madison: I'll take an iPhone then and a scholarship for next semester if she's feeling really generous.

Madison: Although seriously she doesn't owe me anything, I'm happy to help. Actually, you're going to be a little mad at me when you find out how I convince Gabriella to go.

Troy: What did you do?

Madison: Look, we all know Gabby can't go to Thanksgiving with Mercedes. Especially if she might be responsible for some of the recent weird behavior. Even Cassandra agrees with that, and Cassandra never agrees with me.

Madison: Gabriella obviously needs to deal with whatever intervention is waiting for her in New York. Even though we would all like to know why she needs intervention.

Madison: I personally think this is an intervention of the 5150 variety. She threw a lamp at you. Gabriella started this weird behavior pattern after she stopped taking whatever medication she was on because Mercedes told her to. From my experience with my sister, nothing good happens when you go off your meds.

Troy: Thanks to my Chad's mom, I now know what that is. Your sister is bipolar, right?

Madison: It's weird that you keep only making friends with Chads.

Madison: Yes, she was. She died last year. This month actually. Maybe I'm projecting. But I'm seeing flashbacks of my childhood right now, which is why I am helping. November was always her trigger month.

Troy: I'm sorry that happened to you. Also, Chads are the best people I know.

Madison: The best people. I wouldn't have gotten through those dark months without my Chad. That's when we went from best friends to where we are now.

Troy: I'm glad you care and are there for her; at least something good came from Gabby being at that sorority. Now, what did you tell Gabriella?

Madison: I may have convinced her that maybe Ryan sending her a ticket to New York first-class means that he might be interested in her as more than a friend. She's now currently shopping for lingerie and sex toys with Cassandra. She's planning to seduce him to make you jealous.

Troy: ROFLMAO. I hope she picks up a good sex toy because nothing's going to happen with Ryan.

Madison: Why are you not taking this seriously?

Troy: You haven't met Ryan, but he's a Kinsey 4 1/2 on a good day. He is attracted to all men who are not assholes but demisexual when it comes to women. Which is what led to the Kelsi disaster.

Troy: Ryan is not even sure he was actually attracted to her, or his mom was pushing him because she's a homophobic abusive bitch.

Madison: Because Gabby hasn't been talking to him that much, she's assuming that he's really mopey about the breakup and would like a little revenge.

Troy: Really?

Madison: OK, she thinks that Ryan might be Chad's ex-boyfriend. She swears they fucked after a baseball game, and Taylor was totally oblivious. Gabby is convinced that he would be interested in getting a little revenge on his sister for stealing his ex-boyfriend.

Troy: I'm starting to find your Prozac theory very viable.

Madison: Gabby still thinks you, Chad, and Sharpay are in a poly relationship. I think she feels that by sleeping with Ryan, you'll get jealous and break up with them or Chad will get jealous of her and break up with Sharpay for Ryan. I'm not entirely sure because she was a little drunk.

Madison: OK, she was really drunk, and I'm still surprised her GPA is as high as it is right now. She got straight A's on all her midterms.

Troy: I know about her poly theory; she yelled that out during the breakup. I would love to know where she got that idea from. I like to blame the alcohol, but it was probably Mercedes.

Troy: I wonder if this interventionist sending her to rehab? She is really drinking a lot, isn't she?

Madison: She is. I did not want to tell you this, but it's gotten worse in the last few weeks. I've been keeping her from trying anything else in Mercedes stash, though. That girl does a lot of drugs and not just pot. But don't you dare blame yourself for her choices.

Troy: Thank you. I probably will anyway, though.

Madison: You shouldn't.

Madison: I actually confirm that Mercedes put the poly relationship idea in Gabriella's head. Cassandra's mad at Mercedes for reasons only known to her and has been chatty. Per Cassandra, Mercedes convince Gabriella that the reason you have a sex tape of them on your computer is your screwing Chad and Sharpay simultaneously.

Troy: I'm not even surprised.

Madison: Why did you have a sex tape of them on your computer?

Troy: There was no sex actually happening in that tape. Gabby just edited it in a way that makes it worse than what it really was. Kim sent it to me by accident. I was only supposed to get the video of them drunk and acting stupid in a water fountain.

Madison: I'm not defending her actions, but if I found something like that on my boyfriend's computer, I would have questions too. Especially if I knew the guy in question was not that straight.

Troy: But you wouldn't upload it to YouTube.

Madison: Very true.

Troy: Look, I'm glad you got her to agree to New York despite the subterfuge. I'll just send Ryan a warning message. She needs help.

Madison: And you are too busy with your son and your girlfriend to do more than what you have been.

Troy: It's not that I don't care because I do care about Gabriella. I'm worried about the drinking and the weird behavior. It's just becoming a dad is a lot. I have to tell everybody when I go home.

Troy: I'm supposed to be this perfect person, and I got somebody pregnant at 15. My mom already hates Kim, and her dad hates me. I don't even want to know what the rest of the family will think when they all find out.

Madison: You don't have to tell them. You don't owe them a thing.

Troy: I do. Secrets have a way of coming out eventually, and that just leads to baseball bats breaking plasma televisions.

Madison: Do I want to know?

Troy: My Chad is horrible at breaking up. Let's leave it at that.

Madison: You got a lamp thrown at your head, so I don't think you're much better. But at least that's probably better than her catching you with your baby's mama. Again I have pictures of you re-creating the airport scene from Love Actually.

Troy: Can I have those pictures?

Madison: [Image one attached]

Troy: You're the best.

Madison: Just be careful. I'm pretty sure your ex-girlfriend is going to try to send you pictures of her making out with Ryan to piss you off.

Troy: First of all, Ryan would not be interested at all. He's kind of exhausted after the Kelsi break up. And Taylor is going to be there. If he's going to hook up with anybody this weekend, it's going to be her. Ryan has no idea that half his text messages are about her. Kim agrees with me that he has a crush on her. I don't dare discuss it with my Chad because he's not ready for that conversation yet.

Madison: What are the other half about?

Troy: Zack. He is my Chad's version of you're Chad. He's the only player on his team that my Chad can actually stand. Chad is trying to set him up with Ryan. I think Ryan would be receptive if not for the distance, the fallout from Kelsi, and the Heteronormative bull shit that Ryan still needs help being deprogrammed from. Darby did a number on him.

Troy: But I think Ryan's Taylor feelings might be separate from that. But they might also be a rebound thing. I'm staying out of it because I have my own shit to worry about, like letting everybody know I really fucked up, and I have an almost-two-year-old.

Madison: Your priority is Alex, as it should be. This is going to turn into such a triangle. Gabby has no idea she's not even on the board.

Troy: If, by some miracle, it does become a love square, Gabriella will not be able to send me pictures. I'm getting a new phone when I get to New Mexico. Kim is putting me on her cell phone plan.

Madison: It must be nice to be a sugar baby. Although you definitely need to change your number. How many times has Gabby texted you today?

Troy: Enough to totally be OK with my girlfriend buying me a phone.

Madison: Just accept Kim is the breadwinner and focus on your acting career.

Troy: I'm getting child support. I am never telling Nana Katrina that. She would want to do a research paper on it. Nana Karen would be completely appalled.

Madison: And with that, I'm just going to wish you a happy Thanksgiving or at least that you'll survive Thanksgiving.

Mason: BTW, you still owe me your Nana Katrina's contact information. I need to start working on my final paper as soon as Thanksgiving is over.

Troy: I will send it soon. I just want to check with her first.

Troy: I hope I survive too. I also wish you happy survival.

Madison: I'll be OK this year. My Chad and I plan to order Chinese and stay away from everybody at his apartment.

Troy: Lucky.

XXXX

An hour later

Troy: Good news, Madison convinced Gabby to go to New York for Thanksgiving.

Ryan: Good, Maria will be happy. While I am doing spa time with Taylor to make up for my part in the Chadpay debacle, Maria will be confronting Gabriella. Their "spa attendant" will be an intervention specialist.

Troy: Will Maria tell you what type of intervention we are helping with? She doesn't want to burden me because of Alex.

Ryan: I'm assuming alcohol, but I don't know. Although my dad is helping for some reason.

Troy: Maybe Vince is doing this as a thank you for Maria helping you out during the breakup.

Ryan: Maybe.

Troy: Although you should know that to get her to go to New York, Madison, with the help of Cassandra of all people, had to convince Gabriella that you might like her more than a friend. She might be coming to New York for revenge sex. Madison said she was shopping for lingerie and sex toys with Cassandra.

Ryan: Revenge against you or Kelsi? I'm all for Kelsi revenge, but I don't think sleeping with Gabriella would be revenge for anyone.

Troy: Probably Chad or Sharpay. Apparently, I dumped her for a poly relationship with your sister and Chad. Also, she thinks that you fucked Chad during the ill-advised baseball seduction incident and, therefore, would be up to breaking Chadpay up.

Ryan: It would've been a blowjob at best. The layout in the locker room would've been awful for anything else. Unfortunately, Chadwick was too much of a gentleman. He ran away when I got on my knees and started to unzip his pants. He took my shirt.

Troy: I know. However, Gabriella has made it to high paranoia levels, and the drinking is not helping things. Madison says it's gotten worse since the breakup. This definitely explains the trenchcoat incident.

Ryan: I now know why Maria asked for my help. This is going to be messy.

Troy: Very messy. You're not planning for Gabriella and Taylor to share a hotel room? Because that will just add an extra layer to it. You know Taylor was really hurt by Gabriella ignoring her during the breakup.

Ryan: I was, but I'll change that now. I thought if they were forced to talk to each other in person, they could work things out. However, with Gabriella's drinking getting worse, this might not be the time. I hope I can get another room because I know Gabriella won't stay with Maria.

Troy: Or you could just share with Taylor.

Ryan: It's an option.

Xxxxx

mid-day November 25, 2008

Chad sat in the cell phone waiting area the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, waiting to pick up his best friend. It felt strange to realize that it has only been three months since Troy left for Berkeley. Everything was different now. Of course, the most significant difference was currently sitting in his car seat, playing with his toy cars. At least this time, Alex has been a good boy for his Uncle Chad, other than throwing things.

"You're still waiting for Troy to show up?" Ryan asked on speakerphone.

"Yes, and Alex just threw a car at my head," Chad responded.

"I'm sure it just bounced off. You're being a good friend bringing Alex to see his daddy. Alex, are you happy to see daddy?" Alex responded to Ryan's question by giggling. He really was excited to see Troy again. He knew Daddy was coming.

"More like I was the emergency childcare option. Kim's nanny quit yesterday after Alex flushed her keys down the toilet. The agency refuses to give her a replacement two days before Thanksgiving. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to keep him in his car seat the entire time."

"I'm so glad Taylor is taking the train. At least I can come into Penn station. For some reason, dad is sending the car service to get Gabriella from the airport."

"Does Taylor know that you're helping with a very Gabriella intervention? Like your sister asked you to do." Chad asked.

"No, I am waiting to tell her on the way to the hotel. I don't know if she would be willing to help if she knew ahead of time."

Actually, Chad thinks she would be willing to help if she knew what Mr. Evans had planned. However, Chad's been sworn to secrecy. Even Sharpay doesn't know what's going on.

"I know you're friends with Maria, and you want to help. But do you really think it's a good idea to put Taylor and the FMG in the same room right now?"

"Why do you hate Gabriella so much now? You guys were friends in high school." Ryan asked.

"No, I tolerated her in high school because she was dating my best friend, and she was my girlfriend's best friend. I personally didn't like her that much then, and I really don't like her now." Chad said cryptically. "Although Maria is cool."

"Maria is the best, which is why I'm doing this. I couldn't have survived the Kelsi breakup without her. At least Gabriella has a mom that gives a fuck."

"You're still processing all the Darby stuff?" Chad asked. After one good conversation about the subject, they've been avoiding it for the last few weeks. It's all a mess.

"I don't think I'll ever stop. I didn't realize how weird my childhood was until talking things through with Maria. She thinks I should see a therapist. She had a list already on her computer."

"It's not a bad idea. You know your sister sees Olivia three times a week right now."

"And Taylor sees Dr. Michaela just as much. I know Sharpey wants us to do family therapy. I'm thinking about it."

"That's good."

"Although you may want to consider joining us. I think you have some things to work through too. Has your dad talk to you… about anything, actually? Is he coming by himself or bringing a friend?" Ryan asked

"Sorry, Ryan, I'm getting another call. That might be Troy. I will talk to you later." Chad said, switching to the incoming call without waiting for Ryan's response. This was kind of normal for them.

"Troy, I hope this is you. Your son is getting very cranky. " Chad said without looking at the phone.

"Sorry, honey, wrong person." It was his mom calling from DC.

"Hi, mom. I'm just sitting in the cell phone waiting area, waiting for Troy to show up. Alex is already starting to throw things."

"Just remember this experience any time you think about doing something with your girlfriend without protection. You were already here when I was your age." He would never forget that.

"I think Mr. Evans threatening to castrate me if I ever forget to use a condom will prevent your early grandmotherhood." Or thought about having sex with Ryan without a condom. They still have yet to convince him that Ryan is just a friend.

"He would not have threatened you if he didn't love her. Is your girlfriend OK with me staying at their house for a few days? Vince offered, but I also want to make sure Sharpay is OK with it. I know she's had a rough couple of weeks." That was an understatement. Apparently, his mom knew a lot because she has been advising Vince.

"Sharpay's looking forward to it. Besides, the house has eight guest rooms and a guest house. Also, you should know that Vince isn't even going to be here for Thanksgiving. He's planning on surprising Ryan in New York tomorrow night." Chad wasn't allowed to tell Ryan about that part of the intervention.

"I know he told me when we were planning Gabriella's punishment together. The house has multiple bedrooms, yet you always share a bed with Sharpay?" Chad was definitely not answering that.

"Sorry, mom, I think that's Troy. I got to go. Sharpay will be picking you up from the airport because I'll be dealing with dad. Text her if your flight changes."

"Chadwick Danforth, don't you dare hang up this phone on me." Chad heard his mom yell as he quickly ended the call. When he heard the phone ring a few minutes later, he assumed it was his mother calling to yell at him. He quickly grabbed the phone without looking, knowing that if he kept her waiting, he would never hear the end of it tomorrow.

"Mom, I really don't want to talk about my and Sharpay sleeping arrangements with a two-year-old in the backseat."

"I hope not, since it's my two-year-old son in the backseat." It turned out it was Troy.

"All we do is sleep," Chad said defensively. The fact that they sleep with minimal clothes with an extreme amount of "touching" is something that Chad will not speak about with his best friend.

"I may have believed that if you didn't confess all your Jamie secrets to me. According to Amanda and Kim, Mr. Evans scared the hell out of you at the sex health seminar. Supposedly he caught you with your hand in his daughter's cookie jar or rather your fingers inside his daughter's c…"

"Did I mention I have the phone on speaker right now? You may want to stop before you teach Alex a new word he can't repeat in public." The phone was not on speaker anymore, but he was not going to tell Troy that.

"Alex, that is how to get out of conversations you don't want to have," Chad said after he ended the call.

XXXX

"You thought you avoided the whole long-distance relationship thing by going to Berkeley. Yet, you somehow manage to get yourself in the same situation. At least I like this girlfriend." Chad said to Troy as they made their way to East High to see his father, Kim, and Sharpay.

During the ride from the Airport, Troy sat in the back with his son as he caught up with his best friend. He missed his son, and he definitely missed his best friend. The constant calls and text messages weren't enough. You can't get a hug over the phone.

Albuquerque had not changed much except for a new Starbucks and a few more stores here and there. Yet, he and Chad were not the same people they were three months ago. Besides the nicer clothing that Sharpay obviously bought, Chad was a lot more comfortable with being himself. Chad hid behind his super (heterosexual) jock persona in high school, and Troy let him do it. He knew that Sharpay wasn't letting him get away with that anymore. He was glad for that.

Then again, he wasn't the same person either. He left here three months ago, dating Gabriella. Under the delusion, he could balance a performing major with basketball. Now he was a father of a 22-month-old child and engaged to the love of his life. He was also seriously contemplating if he wanted to play basketball at the collegiate level next season. There were other things more important to him, like his son. Life changes quickly sometimes.

"You know I chose Berkeley because I wanted to go to a good drama school that I could play basketball at. At the time, the fact that Gabriella was going to school 40 miles away was just a bonus. Gabriella is the one who could not do a long-distance relationship. I have no problem putting in the effort. She's pretty much disconnected herself from everyone except for Ryan." Troy said as he grabbed Alex's shoes from the floor. He must have taken them off during the ride.

"The only reason Ryan is still talking to Gabriella is he doesn't know Gabby was responsible for the YouTube video," Chad snarled as he made the turn for the school. "OK, and the fact that Maria provided him shelter during that fiasco. Which was the least she could do since her daughter caused it."

"Which is why I haven't told him, but I think Maria will tell Ryan the truth this weekend." Mainly because he may have told Maria how Madison and Cassandra convinced Gabby to come to New York. Marie is not happy, but she still won't explain why she's so worried about Gabriella.

"That's just going to be ugly. I'm glad we didn't take the option to hide in New York." Troy still wondered if New York would be safer than his house Thursday.

"I'm glad you're sticking around. If it's real love, you are going to be willing to work through your problems. I love Kim, and I never stopped. She is essentially my other best friend. So I'm going to do everything to stay with her. I know you already feel the same way about Sharpay. If Sharpay got into one of the top drama programs on the other side of the country, you would do the exact same thing."

"You have a point," Chad said as they pulled into the visitor parking lot at EHS.

"Do we need to transfer the car seat into Kim's car now or afterward?" Troy asked as he started to get Alex out of his car seat.

"This is the car seat that Sharpay bought for this car. Kim has her own for the BMW. Don't forget to bring the diaper bag." Chad was reminding him to pick up his son's diaper bag, and Sharpay was buying car seats for his son out of the goodness of her heart. He's gotten dozens of text messages from Sharpay regarding Alex since she's known the truth, but it just hits differently in person.

"Your girlfriend bought my son a car seat to use when he is in her car?" Troy asked in shock as he placed Alex on the ground.

"She didn't know he was your son at the time. She bought him a car seat that we keep in the trunk. Alex spends a lot of time with us." It hurt Troy to think that his best friend and girlfriend spent more time with his son than he did.

It felt strange walking into the school for the first time since graduation with his son and best friend. He remembers coming here all the time when he was a little older than Alex. He used to dream about being a student here and playing on the basketball team. Now they were walking to the office to pick up their visitors' pass so he could surprise his girlfriend. As soon as they made it through the office doors, Mrs. Rodriguez, the principal's assistant, grabbed Troy into a hug. He has known the woman since he was five years old.

"It's so good to see you back, Troy. I'm sure you're here to see your father. Who is this little guy with you? " Mrs. Rodriguez asked as she handed the visitor passes to Chad. Apparently, Miss Rodrigues was never around when Kim brought Alex to the school. Troy could take the easy way out and say Alex was Kim's son, but he didn't.

"This is my son Alex." As he said this, Mrs. Rodriguez dropped the lollipop that she was just about to give Alex. This was fine with Troy because his son does not need sugar. He could see the shock and disappointment in her eyes. Troy had a feeling he would be seen that look a lot over the next few days as he shatters the illusion of golden boy Troy Bolton. Before Mrs. Rodriguez recovered, they were both making their way to Ms. Darbus' classroom.

"Do you really think it's a good idea to tell people that Alex is your son before you tell your mom? When are you going to tell her anyway?" Chad asked.

"I'm not going to lie about my son. We're planning on telling her tomorrow night anyway. It's not like we're doing well at keeping this a secret. Ryan and Taylor both figured it out."

"Troy, Taylor figured it out before Kim even told you, and Ryan figured it out the same time I did. Ms. Darbus even kept Alex's picture on her desk." Chad said as they walked into the drama room. Yes, the picture was there. And he remembered it being there last year too. He was an idiot.

Alex ran out of his hand straight to Sharpay, who was currently working with Kelsi's sister on the scene.

"Au Pay," Alex cried as he was surrounded by teenage girls.

"This is not my son's first trip to drama class, is it?" Troy asked Chad as he watched his son play around with the other students.

"With you and Kim as parents, Alex was born for the stage. I'll send you the other pictures later. Sharpay wants to put him in the spring musical." Chad said as he walked over to Sharpay and kissed her. Troy seriously doubted the PDA policy was relaxed from last school year.

"I realize that you two haven't seen each other for about 3 hours. However, can you two please wait until the bell rings in 20 minutes to start groping each other in front of my class?" Ms. Darbus chastise the pair.

"Sorry, Ms. Darbus," they both said at the same time as they pulled apart.

"Are they always like this?" Troy asked. They were worse than him and Kim.

"Unfortunately, yes. The teachers are currently taking bets on when the wedding will take place. I have 100 on spring break." Troy chuckled at that. "How was your first semester at Berkeley?

"Classes are great, and I've made a lot of good friends like Yolanda, Chad B, and Madison. Everything else, not so much."

"Let me guess, this is more than normal freshmen blues? Let's take a walk. With Alex around, I doubt we will be able to finish the rest of this afternoon's performances."

5 minutes later, he found himself center stage in the auditorium. "Let's talk about what's bothering you, or would you prefer just to scream on stage at the top of your lungs?" He laughed at that. He remembered that night she caught him in here. Thinking about it now, he wondered if, in her own way, she was trying to get him back with Kim.

"Other than finding out that I'm a father at 18? Actually, I was a father at 16. I just didn't know it for two years."

"I suppose that's the big issue." Ms. Darbus said as she sat next to him on the stage.

"The thing is it's really not. I don't think I understood what love was until I met my son. Alex is the only thing that is simple right now. Being responsible for someone else, now that's a terrifying concept."

"Yes, it is. At least I had nine months to prepare. From what I understand, you were thrown into the deep end immediately."

"You have a child? I didn't know that."

"I have a daughter who is about two years older than your fiancé. I didn't start working here until after the divorce. Because my husband had better lawyers, he ended up with full custody." He could hear the bitterness in her voice.

"Do you have advice for someone who's going to be shuttling their kid back and forth for the next year?" Troy asked.

"You and Kim are in a much better place than I was. From what I understand, the only reason you're not living with Kim is that she wants you to stay at Berkeley. The two of you love each other very much. That will be the only thing that's going to help you get through the next year." Ms. Darbus explained.

"You're probably right; there are just all these other complications. I have a probably unwell ex-girlfriend who still can't comprehend that we are not getting back together because I cannot trust her." And has a lot of problems that he can't deal with right now.

"I also have a future father in law that hates me because I got his daughter pregnant when she was 18. There's also my mother, who will probably kill Kim or me when she finds out about her new grandbaby. I also get to tell everyone that I'm not as perfect as they think I am. Mrs. Rodriguez practically fainted when I told her about Alex. "

"Mrs. Rodriguez always overreacts. I would not use her reaction to gauge everyone. You just announced to my entire classroom that Alex was your child, and not one of them said anything." It wasn't until Ms. Darbus pointed it out that Troy realized he did this.

"Probably because they already suspected," Troy mumbled under breath.

"Which means they never saw you as Mr. perfect golden boy. We're all human. We all make questionable decisions sometimes. You have more important things to worry about than what people think about you. Worry about your son and your fiancé. Concentrate on getting through college. Everything else will fall into place." Ms. Darbus advised him.

"I guess you're right."

"Now you can tell me about how classes are going. Have you tried out for any plays yet?"

"Just the midterm showcase with my new friend Yolanda. We got an A+. She wants me to come audition with her for some of the spring productions. I don't know if I have time with basketball." It was one of the reasons why he was considering not playing next year. He didn't need the scholarship anymore.

"You'll just have to make time for the important things." Troy realized she was right about that.

XXXX

Kim looked at her watch for the 50th time as she observed the honors 10 English class. She knew that Troy's plane should have landed over an hour ago. He should either be on his way to the school or already there. As soon as the bell rang, she tried to run out of the room, but Ms. Ortega stopped her. They needed to talk about next week's lesson plans. 10 minutes later, she finally made it out of the room and accidentally ran into Jason McKessie.

"I'm sorry, Jason, I didn't see you there. I'm assuming Sharpay sent you to come to get me."

"That's right, Ms. Kim, or should I say, Ms. Bolton?" Jason said with a smile.

"Where did you hear that?" They were trying to keep her new last name a secret until after Thanksgiving. She was not looking forward to explaining to the students how she can have a new last name and not be married to Troy. Maybe she should seriously consider doing her student teaching at West High.

"I overheard my dad talking to your dad last weekend about his baby running off and getting married to Troy." Why did her dad always exaggerate things?

"Troy and I are not getting married any time soon. Although I am changing my last name, so Alex and I will have the same name." Kim said as they turned down the hall to Ms. Darbus' classroom. She was so busy talking to Jason, she didn't notice the woman of her nightmares approaching her until it was too late.

"What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in New York." Lucille Bolton told her with a voice of ice. Lucy must be there to see Jack for some reason. This seems weird because she's been ignoring her husband for a month and a half now. Jack is not even 100% sure Lucy knows that he's been sleeping in Troy's room since October.

"I had to move back due to family problems. As for why I am here at East High, I'm doing my student observations this semester. When I got to New York, I decided to be an education major instead of a drama major."

"The school is allowing a pedophile like you to be around children?" It looks like her future mother in law was taking the gloves off. If it wasn't for her promise to Troy, she would smack the woman upside the head. Instead, she tried her hardest to keep calm and neutral.

"If I was doing what I did with Troy with Jason, you can call me a pedophile. However, I am only two years and seven months older than Troy. I know you are upset that your son grew up a little faster than you expected him to, but that was not my fault. I love your son. Contrary to what you think, he loves me." Kim purposely used the present tense to prepare Lucille for what was about to come.

"Whatever your problem is with me, you need to get over it," Kim said, trying to walk away before she punched her son's grandmother.

"You're delusional. Troy has moved on. He has a nice girl his own age, instead of some slut like you." Kim had to literally bite her tongue to keep herself from saying something foolish.

"He broke up with Gabriella over a month ago," Jason said under his breath. The look on Lucy's face was priceless. Did she really think she could bluff the two of them?

"How do you know about that? Besides, this is just a break. I'm sure they'll get back together at any moment." Even Jason was laughing hysterically at that comment.

"My sister used to be best friends with Gabriella until Troy broke up with her for being an evil…" Kim cut him off before being forced to give Jason detention for cursing even though Gabriella deserved it.

"Jason McKessie, if you finish that sentence, I will give you detention. Then I'll tell your mother. I doubt she will let you go to the basketball game tonight if you get in trouble for using dirty words at school."

"Sorry, Ms. Bolton. I won't do it again." Jason said in a condescending tone. As soon as the name was out of Jason's mouth, Lucy went completely pale. Why did Jason have to call her that? This is not good. Troy was supposed to be here when they broke the news to Lucy gently. This was not gentle.

"What did you call her?" Lucy practically screamed the question.

"Ms. Bolton. That is her name. I mean, you are aware that she's engaged to your son and is the mother of your only grandchild. She is taking the last name a little early. You didn't know? I'm sorry, I had no idea it was such a big secret." Jason said that in a way that shows he was anything but sorry. "Ms. Bolton, I'm going to go meet up with Ms. Evans right now."

That evil little 12-year-old. How dare he dropped a bomb like that and leave her to defuse it by herself. He was so getting detention Monday. He was also getting his own very special English assignment. As Lucille started screaming every expletive known to man at her, Kim wondered if she could get away with forcing a 12-year-old to read Camus.

xxx

Sharpay stood in the drama room, waiting for Kim and Troy to show up. They will have to leave soon to have dinner before Chad meets up with the team. Everyone else who was coming with them was already there. Although Zack might join them at the restaurant. Shar was still waiting on his RSVP.

Their punishment for the Taming of the Drama Queen incident was to serve as mentors to at-risk students. She was assigned to Kerri, and Chad was assigned to Jimmy. They were both assigned to Jason. Because they were no classes tomorrow, she was taking all three to watch Chad play tonight. After five more minutes, she asked Jason and Jackie to get Kim and sent Troy a text message to get over here.

"Where is Kim?" Sharpay asked as Jason ran into the classroom.

"Currently being yelled at by Troy's mom in the hallway. Did you know that she didn't know about Alex yet?" This was going to be a disaster, Sharpay thought as she got off Chad's lap.

"Stay here with Alex," Sharpay told Jason as she grabbed Chad and walked out the door. As they walked in on the shouting match going on in the middle of the hallway, they found Troy already there. (Jackie was off to the side filming because, of course, she was.) When she saw the amount of screaming and yelling going on, she was glad Alex would not see this. Mrs. Bolton reminded Sharpay of Darby at that moment.

"Why do you believe her? The child probably is not yours. We all know how she got around in high school." Lucy yelled at Troy. Sharpay personally wanted to deck the woman, but she felt Chad holding her back.

"You mean other than the fact that he looks exactly like me and we have all the same food allergies?" Troy spat out. "Because we knew you see my girlfriend as the easiest person in Albuquerque, we got a DNA test. I personally did not need one because I know I am the only person she has ever had sex with. Congratulations, you are a grandmother." Troy actually had the DNA test with him and threw it at Lucy.

"So what if the little brat is yours. It's not your fault Kim trapped you. You don't owe her anything." Sharpay was not sure who was angrier at that comment Kim or Troy. She could see both shaking.

"You will never talk about my child like that ever again. That is my son, who I love very much. I will do whatever I have to do to protect my son from any threats, including you." Troy said, yelling at his mom.

"Gabriella is a wonderful girl. How can you throw away a year and a half long relationship?" Lucille spat bitterly at the pair.

"Nothing I can say about Kim will ever change your opinion of her. I'm not even going to try Lucy." That was not a good sign. "So let's talk about your precious Gabriella. Let's begin with the fact that she barely called or text messaged me during the first part of the school year. She was too busy getting drunk with Mercedes. Marie is looking at rehab programs."

"Everybody needs time to adjust to college life," Lucille said defensively.

"Gabriella's way of adjusting to college life is to forget her old life, in addition to the drinking. Gabby has always been like that. Do you remember when she dumped me two days before the prom because she couldn't deal with the possibility of a long-distance relationship? What about when she left me at Lava Springs because I was focusing on something other than her. I was starting to grow up, and she couldn't deal with it."

"What about Kim leaving for New York without a phone call?"Lucy pointed out, smugly thinking that she had something on Kim. That was a mistake.

"Let's talk about the fact that you forced her to go to New York without a phone call. Also, it's kind of hard to call when you changed all our numbers." Troy spat angrily. "Gabriella protects herself. Kim left to protect me from you." Lucy's face fell for a moment.

"You don't think I know about that? You don't think I know about the role you played in keeping me away from my son for two years? I know you wrote the letter. I don't think I can ever forgive you for that."

"Honey, I just feel Gabriella is a much better fit for you. She would never force you to do anything that you were not ready for." Sharpay found this part hilarious. She knows about the recent trenchcoat incident.

"Neither did Kim. Everything I did with Kim then and now is 100% consensual. Yes, Lucy, there is a now." Troy said sternly, looking his mother in the eyes.

"Like you, two could have a relationship without sex. I'm sure an oversexed bitch like you needs it all the time."

"Did she just call my best friend a bitch? I'm so going to kick her..." Sharpay whispered to Chad.

"Stay out of it," Chad whispered back.

"My sex life is none of your damn business, especially now that I'm over 18. Also, you have no right to judge anyone for what they do in a consensual relationship. If you're going to call Kim a slut then you're going to have to use the same word for Gabriella. She showed up to my dorm room two weeks ago in a trench coat with nothing else underneath."

"I'm sure she only resorted to that because she was competing against the likes of Kim." Sharpay wanted to laugh so badly. This woman was more delusional than Darby.

"The real reason why I broke up with Gabriella had nothing to do with Kim. In her jealousy, she posted a very private video file of Chad and Sharpay to YouTube. That was after Saint Gabriella stole this file from my computer." Troy was screaming at his mother at this point. But Sharpay only saw red.

"Your bitch of an ex-girlfriend did what?" Sharpay screamed the moment the initial shock wore off. This stopped the family argument instantly.

To be continued…