Hi! Thanks so much to everyoneee for the reviews! You guys are the best! I tried to finish this chapter extra quick. Hope it doesn't disappoint...
oOo
"He's cheating on you." It just came out. Troy didn't even know he had said it out loud, for a second, until he realized all movement at the table had stopped. Lucille's fork clattered to her plate, and she looked up at Troy, shocked.
"What?" She asked. Troy noticed Jack's hands were clenched into tight fists, and he was glaring at him.
Troy had already said it. He may as well go all out now. "He's cheating on you. With my teacher." Lucille's mouth dropped open and there was even more tense silence.
"How--How long?" she managed to get out. Troy took a deep breathe, but didn't get to finish.
"This is ridiculous! Lucille, don't listen to him. Do you really trust him over me?" Jack was standing now. "I love you, baby," he tried to sound gentle, but it somehow still came across as angry.
Lucille looked back and forth between Troy and Jack. Jack was staring down Troy, warning him not to open his mouth again. He did anyway. "I saw them. A few weeks ago. They were on the couch and--"
"Enough!" Jack roared. "Troy. Up to your room, NOW. I don't want to hear any more of this from you." Troy obediently shoved back from the table and stormed up to his room.
He collapsed on his bed and briefly closed his eyes. What had he done? It was quiet for a minute, but soon he heard yelling from downstairs. He pulled his pillow up over his head to try and drown out their shouts, but it didn't work.
After what seemed like hours, there were footsteps on the stairs and finally, a definitive, "I'm leaving."
Troy's heart stopped. What? There is no way. No way his mother was leaving; it was just to crazy. Hesitant, Troy climbed out of bed and went to his door. He stuck his head out into the hallway and saw his parent's bedroom door open at the end of the hall. He went to investigate.
Inside, his mother was frantically throwing clothes into a suitcase, her face tearstained. She looked up at Troy when he entered. "I'm sorry baby," she explained, "I really am, it's just-"
Jack cut her off when he barged into the room. "No!" He shouted, "You don't understand, Lucille. I can't-I don't know what I'll do without you." He looked lost, angry, and sad all at the same time. "Please."
"I'm sorry, Jack. I just can't do this right now." She snapped her suitcase closed and went into the bathroom, emerging a few seconds later with her toothbrush and shampoo. "I just need some time to sort this out and figure out what to do." She shoved them into a pocket on her bag.
"Stay," Jack pleaded, "give me another shot. I promise-"
She cut him off. "I can't. I'm sorry."
Troy had watched the exchange silently until now. "Can I go with you, Mom?" he said quietly.
Lucille sighed and ran a hand through her already messy hair. "Troy," she closed her eyes for a second, "I know you don't understand right now, but I just need to be alone for a little while. Figure this out." She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "You'll be fine, right?"
Troy looked over to his emotionally drained father and shrugged. "I guess so." Lucille came over and crushed him in a hug. He hugged back, realizing this might be his last time to see her for a while. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, honey. I love you." She kissed the top of his head, stood up, and grabbed her suitcase. "I'll miss you." She turned to Troy's father. "Goodbye, Jack."
Jack looked horrible. He trailed behind Lucille all the way to the front door like a lost dog, and watched her walk out, get in her car, and drive away. He stared out the window for a few moments before turning around. Troy stood at the bottom of the stairs, unaware what one was supposed to do in this situation. Should he try and comfort his dad? Jack soon answered that question for him.
"You," Jack said, his eyes narrowed into the most terrifying glare Troy had ever seen. "What have you done! You idiot! Why did you have to tell her?"
"Oh, I don't know," Troy threw his hands up in anger, "maybe a little thing called honesty? You should try it sometime Dad, really." Jack let out a growl. An actual growl, and lunged towards Troy. He darted out of the way just in time, and hopped to the other side of the couch. "Was it worth it, Dad?" Troy knew he was just angering his father more, but his temper had taken over and there was nothing he could do. "Was Ms. Lewis worth mom leaving?"
Jack yelled again and ran around the couch, but Troy was fast. He backed into the kitchen before his father could catch him. They faced each other from opposite sides of the island in the middle of the room. Jack and Troy looked equally livid.
"You bastard. How could you even say that!" Jack picked up a plate and chucked it at Troy, who ducked. It shattered behind him.
"Maybe I'm curious. Why'd you do it, dad." Troy spit the word out like he was ashamed, ducking more kitchenware while he said it.
"You little shit!" Jack was advancing around the counter. "You don't know anything." He jumped at Troy, who prepared to dash off again but Jack caught his ankle. Troy's cheek hit the corner of the table on his way down, and he managed to catch himself with his hands before smashing into the ground. Troy scrambled to his feet but was knocked right back down again when a heavy fist collided with his cheek. He yelled out.
Jack was in a blind rage. He was screaming, hitting, and kicking while Troy desperately scrambled backwards until his back hit the cabinets. "Dad, stop it!" he yelled.
"No! Not until you say it wasn't my fault!"
Troy was incredulous. "But it was your fault. If you hadn't cheated on her none of this would have happened!" He lifted his hand to shield another blow, and tried once again to get to his feet unsuccessfully.
"Say it!" The blows stopped for a moment, and Troy cautiously lowered his arms to see what was happening. Bad idea. Jack had a frying pan held dangerously high above his head.
"Fine! It wasn't your fault!" Troy called out, but it was too late. The pan connected with the side of Troy's head and all he knew was darkness.
oOo
"Alright! Everybody back on the line. Since Troy here can't seem to keep up, we've got five more suicides. Stop your grumbling!" Coach Bolton urged the team to the line.
They jogged over reluctantly, and Jason gave Troy a little shove. "Come on man, what's your problem today?" Troy just shrugged, and braced himself for the start.
The whistle blew, and they were off. Troy's body ached more with every step, and his head's pounding was increasing in intensity. Distantly, he heard his father yelling at him, and he knew he was lagging behind his other teammates. He urged his legs to move just a little faster, his arms pumping. By some miracle, Troy crossed the line even with everyone else.
Coach Bolton grumbled, but called off practice. "Alright boys, hit the showers." he said, "and I'm expecting better tomorrow!" The team headed for the locker room, but Troy was called back.
He jogged up to his father. "Don't shower yet," he told him, "drop your backpack off in the truck. I'll meet you at home."
Troy suppressed his groan, but didn't dare to complain. Instead he glared at his feet. "Yes, sir," he ground out. Just what he needed, to strain his injuries even more. His dad did this when he was mad at him, made him run home from school instead of giving him a ride.
He was a couple miles away from the school, and a couple more away from his house when he saw, in the distance, the back of a dark, curly head. Gabriella, Troy thought. He quickened his pace a little until he caught up, and settled into a walk beside her. She was surprised at first, but calmed down when she realized who it was.
"Hey," she said quietly.
Troy panted for a second, catching his breath, before responding. "Hey." They walked in silence for a while until Troy questioned, "do you always walk home from school?"
He looked over to her, and she nodded.
"This is an awful long way to walk every day."
She blushed a little. "Yeah, well I'm almost back anyway. Just a few more houses down." There was a brief silence. "Do you always run home from school?"
Troy chuckled. "No, not really. Only when my dad is pissed at me."
"And he is now?"
Troy ducked his head down. "Yeah, long story."
"Oh," she said, accepting his lack of explanation. "Well, this is it." She gestured to the house beside them. It was medium sized, well kept, and overall looked pretty normal.
"Cool," Troy turned into the walk with her, and stopped when they reached the front door. "I'll see you at the game Friday night?" Troy asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
Gabriella flushed. "Um. Maybe. I guess, if I can make it."
"Great!" Troy lightened up. "I'll see you tomorrow, Gabriella!"
She nodded and went inside her house.
Troy ignored all his pains and grinned the rest of the way home.
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