(Important reoccurring) Cast break! You'll need to know for this home seq. Here are a few family members (you'll see whose in a moment)
Rose Nielsen-Rose Byrne
Luke Nielsen- Roshon Fegan
Evan Cross- (Yet to be decided)
Treble (Clef)- He's a tiny, adorable, golden Maltese 3
BACK INTO THE ACTION!
"Sharpay!"
Sharpay turned around and looked at Zeke as he approached her, looking worried and out of breath. "Yeah?" She said.
He exhaled, panting slightly. "Why...did you run?"
She crossed her arms. "Well you came after me, I figure you should know." She muttered.
Zeke looked at her. "Sharpay..." she slumped. "Shar, you know Gabriella didn't mean any of that."
"Oh but she did!" she flipped to face him and snapped. "She meant every word! So does everyone else!"
"Everyone else?" he slowly began to back up as she walked forward. The rage and hurt in her eyes were very clear.
"You don't think I used to hear your jokes? The entire basketball team- especially Chad! Ice queen, shopping for mirrors- I still don't understand that!" she exclaimed, her voice beginning to crack and move into a sob. "What does that even mean?"
Zeke looked in awe. He felt awful that they had caused her such pain in the past (and present). He hated to see her cry like this because of it...
"I can't help who I am!" Sharpay cried. "Not the way you'd like me to. One day, that piece of your personality comes in. If it's bad, you don't know how to stop it! It's a part of you." She raised a finger, still trying to keep a hard exterior, but failing. "And I have tried, so hard to keep the peace with all of you. I'm still trying! I'm trying to be the-the good friend, the one you come and cry to when you have a bad day, the one you actually want to be around!" Sharpay exclaimed. "I want to leave all those bad times behind, but some parts I can't change. Not yet anyway..." Zeke nodded, looking down. "I've forgiven all of you...for the most part." Sharpay continued as she gave a small, one-shouldered shrug. "But deep down, I know that no one has forgiven me completely. I don't think you guys ever will..."
Silence.
Sharpay let out a shaky breath. She gently turned to face the fountain, beginning to walk to it.
...
"I've forgiven you?" She heard Zeke's quiet voice say. Sharpay froze, tensing up and getting ready to cry again. She was soon hugged from behind by him, his head softly resting on top of hers.
"I see you trying Shar, I can tell you want to be nice...you've become so used to being excluded, you've forgotten how to truly let go and hang around us. You've also forgotten how it feels to be truly accepted." Sharpay nodded quickly, whimpering a little. "Well, you're accepted by me. If anyone leaves you behind, you'll always have a friend in me."
...
"So….does that mean that you'll ditch the rest of the gang?" her tiny voice asked.
Zeke laughed and replied, "Shar...that's not exactly how it works."
She frowned. "Well how does it work then?" she grumbled.
Zeke sighed with a smile, he had all the patience in the world with this girl. "It works by me being there for you during the good and bad times, no matter what anyone says."
"You don't mean that Zeke." Sharpay sighed. "I'm not as pleasant as you might think."
"Oh, I don't think that all the time. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to be your friend. Friends don't like each other all the time." She nodded gently. "That doesn't mean you have to be alone."
Sharpay turned around and hugged him back. "Zeke...thank you."
He smiled and accepted the surprise hug. "Of course."
She broke the hug, wiping her eyes and sniffling. Zeke still smiled, looking at the setting sun.
"Hey, everyone's starting to head out. Ready to go?" He offered a hand. She looked at it in disbelief before softening. She reached out, hesitated for a second, and took it.
"Yeah...let's go home."
XxxxxxxxX
Ryan looked up from the table to see his twin coming in, alive and well (not that he'd worried about that in the first place. She was fine). He exhaled and picked up her purse as she approached.
"Hey, you okay?" Ryan asked gently as Sharpay took her belongings from him with a quiet nod.
"I don't think she's ready to talk yet, but I think she's gonna be okay," Zeke said.
"Thanks, Zeke." Ryan nodded his gratitude. Kelsi came into the room, back on her...foot. Ryan took her backpack, earning a smile and gentle 'thank you.'. "Mhm. Let's go, later guys!" he waved. The drama club teens left the scene.
Martha stood, grabbing her bag. "I'm ready to head out Chad, try not to kill our leader on the way home?" She joked before moving a serious look to Taylor, who was cleaning up a counter. "That girl's gonna do something great one day."
Chad blinked. "Right. Don't worry Martha, she'll be fine. If she doesn't kill me first."
Martha smirked. "Watch your back." She whispered before giving him a playful slug and walking towards the door.
"Go home." He scowled.
"That's where I'm going!" She called with a grin. She motioned to Jason, who was coming out the employee room. "Babe, let's go."
"Okay, I'm coming." He walked over, swinging his bag over his shoulder. "Later Chad!" He waved. Zeke joined him.
Chad waved to them all. "Be safe." "Thanks!" The restaurant doors closed.
Taylor came to the table, in the process of setting her low ponytail free. When she finished she blinked. "Aw! They left already?"
"They said bye?" Chad offered.
"No they didn't." Taylor said with a knowing smirk. Chad couldn't help but smirk as well. Taylor sighed. "So, ready to go home?"
He nodded. "Taylor protector at your service."
Taylor rolled her eyes slightly. "I don't need anyone to protect me Chad, and Ryan said you're here so we can protect each other."
"Whatever you say McKessie." He smirked. She sighed.
"Let's just go already." She groaned as they approached the door. He held it open, making a hand motion to her. She looked at him with narrowed eyes before going through silently.
"Wow~ you're so rude!" He called.
"Thank you Chad~!" She sang like a student greeting a teacher.
"All I ask for!"
XxxxxxxxX
Martha brought her car to a stop in front of Zeke's house. "Later muffin man!" she smiled, returning the fist bump he offered her.
"Later Mar- "He saw his best friend in the front seat. "You getting out man?"
Jason turned around, shaking his head with an 'isn't an obvious voice' "This isn't my house!"
"You live like, a neighborhood or two away!" Zeke pointed out.
"That's too far! It's evening, man!"
"It's walking distance! We can walk and talk!"
Jason's eyes widened. "We do that stuff during the day! You ever heard that saying 'the freaks come out at night'? Not for me they don't. I am not the one."
"Dude the minute I get in my mom's gonna ask me to make dinner! I just spent hours making food, I'd rather wait until she does it herself this time!" Zeke groaned.
Jason quietly faced forward with crossed arms. "I don't want to."
Zeke blinked before looking back and forth at the remaining passengers. "Aaaah! I see."
"What?!" Jason said
"I see what you're doing! You two want to hang out without the third wheel! I get it!" Zeke said, in a half joking, half serious voice.
"Zeke!" Martha laughed
"Okay! I got it!" He teased, opening the door. The couple still in the car laughed.
"Zeke come on!" Jason pleaded with his best friend, laughing at his mock anger. The door closed. "Zeke!"
"No!" He made dramatic stomps to the door.
"Come on man!" Jason smiled.
"Love you Zeke!" Martha giggled.
"Humph!" Zeke said before smiling at them. "Love you guys too. Now Goodnight! Ya nasty jerks." He added with a sly grin.
"Night Zeke!" They laughed as the door closed.
Zeke chuckled to himself as he locked the door. He opened the coat closet, flipping on the light. He then picked a hanger to put his jacket on. He looked down to begin the procedure. That's when he saw-
"AGH!" Zeke screamed, very startled. He dropped his jacket in his panic. It fell on the figure with a 'WUMPH'!
Welcome to the Baylor home.
"Oog! Hey!" It said/whined. 'It' had a very small, childish voice. Zeke came down from his fight or flight mode with fast, heavy breaths. They slowed down eventually. He then focused an unamused look on the fallen jacket, with odd shapes being punched and kicked in it. He lifted it off like a magician to reveal...
His five year old sister.
"Marie." He said with a very serious tone. "What are you doing in here?" He stated more than asked.
"It's not my fault!" She insisted, dark eyes looking very innocent. Whenever Marie insisted, it sounded like that bike kid from the Incredibles movie. Kind of sing-song. "Alex put me in here!"
He sighed. "Alex put you in here."
"Uh-huh!" She nodded with big eyes, her raven curls bouncing.
He sighed once again, this time with annoyance. Zeke looked further into the closet, seeing very clearly that the youngest Baylor's step stool was missing. He held out a hand to her. "Come on." Marie made a noise of effort as her brother pulled her on her feet.
Zeke's long strides across the house were outdoing her small ones, so he slowed down a bit. "Where's Mom and Dad?"
"Mommy's in her office on the phone with a client." She replied, as if reciting a previously given answer. Mrs. Baylor was a real estate worker, and often busy. She was fun and loving, but could be very stern when she wanted to be.
"Right. That explains why I'm not hearing Alex scream for mercy." He muttered. Marie giggled. "And Dad?"
"Daddy's still at the construction site." She said. His father was a construction worker. He often came home after seven, sometimes eight. Currently, he and his fellow workers were working on a school auditorium. Mr. Baylor was the fun parent, he loved messing with his kids.
Zeke and Marie stopped in front of a door. Before he could give a stern knock, hard and very rapid ones beat him to it.
"Alexander John Baylor you're in big trouble mister!" She said with almost hidden triumph. Her incredibly fast knocks didn't cease.
Someone needs to enter this girl in the talent show or something, Zeke thought to himself, How is she doing this?
"Alexander you open this door right now! We don't close doors in this house!" She spoke again. Zeke smirked quietly. It was kind of cute when Marie got mad. She was so short and her voice was so high, that she looked like a mouse demanding a lion to do it's bidding. "ALEXANDER I MEAN IT! YOU OPEN THIS DO-"
Before Zeke could tell the child to lower her voice, the door swung open to reveal ten year old Alex Baylor.
"Marie." He said with narrowed eyes, glaring at the angry child. "Why-" He smirked at her face. "What's up firecracker?"
"You're in big trouble." She growled. "I told Zeke what you did. He's not very happy you locked me in the closet. Where's my stool?!"
"Why, your stool is right here in the hall!" Alex said with a mock gasp as he spoke. Zeke and Marie looked down to their right. He was right, there was the stool.
"It belongs in the closet Ale- " Zeke began.
"You liar! That wasn't here before and you know!" Marie pointed.
"Oh really?" Alex smirked.
"You took it when you locked me in the coat closet!" She exclaimed.
Alex gasped. "Oh Marie..." he cooed, stooping to her level. "Did I lock you up in the coat closet? Poor thing, no lights and everything!" he pinched her cheeks, shaking his hands like one of those ladies who think whatever they're seeing is absolutely darling. "We're lucky you're not afraid of the dark! You couldn't even reach to get ou- "
"Zeke Aaron Baylor! Do something!" Marie demanded her other big brother.
"I was going to Marie, but you beat me to it." Zeke replied. Marie struggled to push Alex's hands away, very annoyed.
She spoke calmly, "Zeke. Did I ask you what happened then? No. I'm asking you to do something now!" Marie said with a frown. "Alexander, quit it!"
Zeke sighed. "Alex." His brother froze and stood. Alexander flashed a grin. "Zeke!" He said with open arms.
"Alex!" Zeke imitated his tone before crossing his arms. No hugs for him. Alex was in hot water. "Why'd you lock Marie in the closet?" He asked his brother.
Alex sighed. "She was only in there for like...three minutes. It's not like I wanted to keep her in there all night. She kept running in singing TV theme songs."
Zeke raised a brow. "More than one?"
Alex looked as if he was going to shudder. "More than one. So... many, actually." They both looked down at their sister. She blinked. "I was playing a game with my friends." He explained with a sigh, motioning to his Xbox. "A game that took a lot of concentration." He said to Zeke but looked at Marie.
"Sorry Alex..." Marie said sincerely.
He smiled and patted her head. "It's okay, Tiny. I'm sorry too. The game is over now, we won. Wanna watch something?"
"Okay!" She smiled.
"Wait a second you two, did you eat?" Zeke asked.
"Nope." Alex smiled.
"Mom said, 'Tell Zeke to make dinner'." Marie grinned, reciting their mother's words once again.
"Great." Zeke groaned.
XxxxxxxxX
At the Evans's Mansion- which was farther away from the rest of the Wildcats of course- Kelsi exhaled as she finished singing her new piece to Sharpay. Sharpay was wearing her pajamas, curled up in a hot pink saucer chair. She'd hardly spoken a word since they left the restaurant.
Welcome to the Evans Mansion
"Well?" Kelsi asked nervously.
Sharpay gave a short, quiet nod. "It's good." She stood. "You should show it to Ms. Darbus. She'll find something to do with it. She always does."
"Yeah..." Kelsi laughed softly.
Sharpay stood up to take her keys from the top of the piano. "Let's get you home. I promised to have you home before 9:30."
"Okay, thanks." Kelsi said as they left the music room, heading down the hall to the stairs. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked her friend.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking though." Sharpay sighed and started down the steps. "Annabelle?" she called to one of the family's maids.
"Yes sweetheart?" A curvy brunette woman in her late 40's, replied. She'd been with the Evans since they were in middle school.
"If Mommy and Daddy come home before you leave, can you please tell them that I'm dropping off Kelsi?" She asked.
"Alright. Drive safely..." Annabelle smiled before blinking at the teen. "Darling...you're wearing your pajamas."
Sharpay nodded. "What's wrong? I'm just staying in the car."
"You don't usually-" Annabelle began before footsteps were heard. Ryan walked in eating a cookie.
"Thanks for the cookies Anna." He smiled.
"Of course!" She chirped. "I'm glad you like them!"
Before she could turn back to ask more questions, Sharpay answered her. "I'm fine Anna, I promise."
"Alright then." Annabelle smiled, leaving it at that.
Kelsi smiled at Ryan as they started towards the door and he smiled back. "Later, Kelsi." He waved.
"Bye..." She smiled and waved back. Kelsi and Sharpay left the house, heading to Sharpay's pink car. Sharpay unlocked the car and another worker by the name of Wayne opened the door for each girl.
"Thanks." Sharpay said quietly, getting in and inserting her key.
Kelsi's door closed and she went to put on her seatbelt. "Where are your parents?" She asked.
Sharpay adjusted her rearview mirror. "Dinner party. Someone important had a birthday."
"Oh." Kelsi replied. They pulled out of the driveway and left the home.
"Is your mom back yet?" Sharpay asked after a moment.
"Um...yeah. She got back about...two hours ago. She text me earlier when the jet landed. I'm texting her back now." Kelsi replied, typing on her cell phone.
"Oh, that's great." Sharpay nodded. "Glad she's home safely."
"Me too." Kelsi smiled. "Luke is probably excited to hear what happened on the trip." Luke was Kelsi's older brother, he was 25.
"Oh, I know it!" Sharpay said. They both laughed at her statement. The pair kept talking like this as they cruised down the streets of New Mexico.
XxxxxxxxX
Martha pulled up to Jason's house very slowly.
Jason smirked. "Martha you have to let me go."
She gave him a pout. "But I don't wanna."
He kissed her cheek and the car stopped. "Fine..." Martha groaned.
Jason smiled. "Thanks!" he opened the car door. "Night, beautiful." He waved
"Night Jason!" Martha giggled. The boy could be a doofus, but he was adorable. Jason waved one more time before opening the gate and going to the front door. He unlocked it and went inside.
A pretty hazel haired woman with red lipstick sat on the couch, writing something on one of the many papers that were near her on the coffee table. She lifted her head, noticing his entrance. "Hi, darling." She greeted him with a smile.
"Hey." He walked over to to give her a small hug from behind the couch before going to the kitchen. The kitchen was right next to the living room. A wall with an open rectangle (so you could see into the other room) separated the two.
"How was your day?" She asked.
"It was cool, how was yours?"
"Busy." She sighed, her lovely smile not once leaving her face.
"Aw, I'm sorry." He said "Where's Dad?"
She rolled her eyes. "In the basement, with his beloved piano. He's making weird faces while he plays again."
"Wow, thanks a lot." A voice said. A dark haired man walked in, wearing a tux and a smirk.
was a pianist (a very good pianist, actually). He would play at weddings, funerals, graduations, social events- you name it. He also recorded music.
"Nice song." The woman smirked back.
"Hence the weird faces." Jason's father, Evan, stuck his tongue out at her.
"Grow up." Her face scrunched up.
Who was she, exactly?
That was Rose. Rose was a beautiful, slim woman with shoulder length- as said- hazel hair. She usually had the ends flipped out instead of in like other women did. It looked fantastic on her though. Jason was related to her, but she wasn't his mom. In fact, she was-
The two looked up when they heard two soft car beeps. The door opened. "Hey, Uncle Evan and Jase. Hi Mom." Kelsi smiled at Rose.
Kelsi's mom.
Welcome to the Cross-Nielsen Home
"Hi, darling!" Rose smiled, Kelsi gave her a hug after giving Evan her crutches.
"How was the trip?" Kelsi asked when they broke apart, moving to the couch. A small golden Maltese ran up to her, causing her to gasp in delight. "Hey Treble!" she greeted her dog, with a proud smile.
"Great, actually!" Rose said. "The new products look great and Jordan is working very nicely! She's so mature, professional, and excellent in her work might I add. You can see the pride in her father's eyes." Rose smiled. Rose was the secretary to the wealthy CEO of a company called, McKessie Enterprises.
Oh yes. You read that right.
McKessie Enterprises, a business owned by Tyler McKessie (but more on him later).
"Luke was so bummed that he had to stay behind this time." Kelsi snickered, letting Treble Clef run off again.
Rose made a sympathetic puppy face. "Aw...where is he?" She looked around. The back door opened. A tall, darker haired boy came in. He looked exhausted, but he smiled at everyone anyway.
"Oh, hey mom! When did you come home?" He gave her a hug before moving to give Kelsi one. "Hey, Kels."
"Hey! Two hours ago." Kelsi whispered.
"Oooh..." Luke winced. "I'm sorry mom, I got distracted. I have an idea that I really think Mr. McKessie will like." He explained, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.
"He likes all of your ideas sweetheart." She smiled, Luke beamed at this.
Luke had a smile that made you think he was a salesman, but it was genuine. His skin was a bit darker, (tan if you will?) than Kelsi's. He was 25 years old with a passion for changing the world and he loved making new gadgets to use, currently for himself or the house. Though he was an adult, Luke still lived with his family. They had small two guest homes on the property. One home was for Jason and his dad, and the other was for Luke. Luke's ideas and inventions usually resided in his 'office'. He worked with his mom at McKessie Enterprises, but it was currently as an apprentice. Tyler McKessie loved the way he thought, and the McKessie's had known him since he was little. They were best friends with Rose back in high school and hadn't separated since. So whenever there was a checkup at the company's base, Rose would take Luke and Tyler would take his daughter Jordan. The two were future team members (two smart and creative future team members). However, this time Luke stayed due to another gadget. It happened a few times.
"So how's Jordan?" Luke asked his mother.
"She's smarter and prettier by the day." Rose smiled. "One more year of college and she'll be working beside you until she begins to take over for her father." Jordan was 20 years old and attended the University of Albuquerque.
Luke nodded. "Great! Now, I'm starving. Who wants dinner?"
"I do!" Jason, Kelsi, Rose, and Evan replied.
XxxxxxxxX
Martha dropped her bag on the couch before heading to her room. She really wanted to take a nap. However, that was soon denied when her almost closed door was knocked open with a karate kick.
"HeeeeYA!" A slightly high female voice sounded. Martha's head snapped up. That voice belonged to someone she knew very well.
"HanNAH!" Martha groaned before flipping around to look at the culprit.
Welcome to the Cox household.
"Hi hi!" She waved. Hannah was a redhead, but it was so dark people often saw it as brown from afar. Her hair was down and curled, reaching her shoulder blades. Her pearly smile ever present, red lipstick making it more clear.
"Whaaaaaa!" She heard another silly voice, slightly lower. The voice came with another female, slowly somersaulting into her room.
"Adrien!" Martha protested to the other one. The other girl stood.
"Hey, sis." She winked. Adrien Cox had regular brown hair. She wore it in a fishtail braid that went over her shoulder. Her smile was usually small, and gentle.
They were fraternal, they were 25, and they were the Cox twins.
They were also gymnasts.
Very good gymnasts.
Hannah jumped onto the bed. "We're home for the week and you come home to take a NAP? You didn't even say hello! That's so rude!" They were full of energy at the moment.
"Mom and Dad went to the store to get some snacks. "Adrien said, being the calmer one of the two, her voice was softer. "We're gonna watch a movie as a family when they get home. So get up and come help us bring blankets to the living room."
"I'm tired guys! I've been out all day!" Martha tried to reason with her sisters. They stared at her.
"Fine then." Hannah pouted, sticking her nose in the air before slamming the mattress with her hands and army growling. "WE NEVER SLEEP!"
"CAUSE SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!" Adrien replied, "WE NEVER SLEEP!"
"CAUSE SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!"
"You guys!" Martha whined.
"WE NEVER SLEEP! CAUSE SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!" The twins chanted, full of energy. They must have slept on their flight from Michigan. They went to Michigan State University. They were attending on a gymnastics scholarship. Both twins were majoring in sports medicine. "WE NEVER SLEEP! CAUSE SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!" They continued.
Martha groaned. "NO!" Adrien and Hannah pouted.
"Pleeeeeeease?" They chorused to their younger sibling.
Martha blew her bangs from her face with narrowed eyes. "Fine."
"YAY!" They cheered and hugged her. Martha couldn't help but smile a little.
"Welcome home, you two."
This was gonna be a long night.
Please Review! Next up, our main 4! Anyone up for a Troyella fluff?