Chapter 9:
Troy Bolton was driving for the past two hours and a half. Now he stood outside a house of a stranger, he rang the door bell a few times. He needed answers. He needed them right now.
After what he had seen…
He held his breath.
The door swung open and a beautiful lady in a champagne dress stood at the doorway. She was shocked and horrified, her slender fingers trembling.
"Troy," Gabriella said softly, eyes wide. "How-how did you find me?"
"Someone told me you are here," Troy answered, anger and grief coloured his voice. Blue-grey eyes studied her face before he continued, "How are you going to explain this?"
Gabriella's lips parted but not a word was uttered. She dipped her head, avoiding eye contact. She was lost for words. She wanted to hide the guilt and shame in her eyes from him.
Troy took a step forward and gripped her shoulder, "Answer me…please."
"Troy…I love you. I really do…," Gabriella stuttered, her eyes red.
Hearing her answer, his heart faltered. She was lying. "He's not here is he?" Troy asked, sorrow clumping his throat as he released his grip.
"I love you Troy…please listen…" she mumbled, brushing strands of black hair away from her tear stained face. "I can explain."
"What is there to explain?" he asked as he suppressed his anger. "What is there to say? You have been sleeping with a colleague of yours for the past few years. You cheated on me."
"Troy, I didn't mean too. I love you." Gabriella took his hand gingerly.
"If you love me, why are you doing this? Why? When you know this will hurt me! When this will hurt us!" he yelled, pulling his hands away from her grip. He took a few steps back, turned away from her and choked back his tears.
"Why?" he asked softly a few seconds later. He could no longer look at her. Disgust grew stronger within him as he thought of her. He could feel the love he had for her eroded slowly.
Gabriella sobbed, her chest inflated with pain and guilt. There was no answer to any of his questions.
"Don't lie to me. Don't tell me you love me," Troy said bitterly. "I have given up so much for you...my passion for basketball, my identity…what else must I give you? I changed myself to a man that I don't even recognize when I looked at the mirror."
He turned around, gazing straight into her eyes. "Tell me, do you love him?"
Her eyes widened, staring tearfully at him. "I do…he's – "
Troy shook his head as he cut her short, "Enough." There was no need for her to explain her love and fondness for the other man. There was no need at all. He did not want to hear her reasons. He was sick of them.
He inhaled deeply. Eyes tired and sore.
He gazed at the sky, seeking courage and comfort. Troy felt weak. Betrayed. He might have not given her his entire heart but he had tried. He had tried to remove the feelings he had for Ryan Evans.
It was a futile attempt but at least he tried.
Did she even try for a moment to forget about the other man? The thought of her cheating him when she entered college was repulsive. Troy Bolton had met the other man. He was Joshua Alton – one of the best heart surgeons in the nation.
It explained so much…the sandy brown hair, the fair complexion and those clear blue eyes. Heavenly blue eyes that could easily mesmerized anyone.
"Abigail's not mine is she?" Troy asked with much strength. Gabriella paled at that statement. Silence filled the space between them.
He already knew Abigail was not his daughter but he could never bring himself to believe that. Abigail was his little girl. His beloved little angel that lifted his spirit with her sweet smile and baby talks. It was already so hard to accept the truth of his wife cheating on him, just imagine the confirmation of the fact Abigail was not his.
"No…" she sobbed softly.
"Thank you for confirming my worse fear," he replied, his voice breaking under the building pressure in his chest. He turned away from her and headed to his car.
Gabriella went after him, screaming for him to stop. "Troy! Please listen! Don't do this to me! Please!"
Troy unlocked his Lamborghini and opened the car door. Without a glance back, he entered his car. He could hear her weeps but he ignored them. Releasing the hand break, he moved his car into gear and drove off.
From his rearview mirror he saw Gabriella's knees buckled, kneeling on the driveway. Sorrow and anger clenched his heart. Hot tears stung his eyes.
He wanted a divorce.
He could not bear the sight of her.
Yet he loved his little girl Abigail.
A black saloon parked a few cars from the silver Lamborghini shifted into gear. The windows were darkened. All that could be seen was a faint flicker of a lit cigarette.
A smile of satisfaction rested on the driver's lips as he noted the anger and grief that lined the husband's face. He had done well.
"It went well," his said into his earpiece.
Ryan Evans was reading the lists Troy had given him. He knew well that Troy Bolton would not and could not provide him with the documents relating to the board members and shareholders. That would be against the company's law.
Sipping his cup of home brewed coffee, he relaxed himself back on his comfy sofa. In his opinion, a successful man must learn how to balance his work and personal life. He might look like the sort of man that was married to his job but apparently he was not.
He enjoyed spending his free time with the piano and a good book. That was his personal life. Any life away from his job was always considered personal. Once in awhile he would practice his fencing skills. And if he did, he would have to do that at night under the guidance of the moon. Sometimes you might catch him in the country club's shooting range.
He placed the lists down, straightening, pushing his legs out. He yearned for a good long walk. A walk in the park or a hike to unwind himself.
With a sigh, he pushed himself up to answer the knock on his door.
He was not expecting visitors. It might be Sharpay or Zeke or Kelsi.
Somehow a part of him was expecting Kelsi. It was not out of fondness or anything. But after her return two days ago, she kept bumping into him. Wherever he was, she would be there. He hoped that she knew that he had no feelings for her, and that he was only helping Sharpay out in their final year in East High.
He liked her and perhaps loved her like he loved Sharpay. That was it.
He silently cursed Jason for his incompetence. The man had never plucked enough courage to confess his love to Kelsi. Ever since Jason laid eyes on Kelsi in East High, that man was madly in love with her. He tried to change himself to impress her, but she never noticed him. Maybe she did when he opened his big mouth to ask Mrs Darbus about her summer.
When he turned the doorknob he prayed that the person standing on his doormat was not Kelsi.
Guess what?
It was not.
It was worse.
It was Troy Bolton.
Troy held the mug with both hands, feeling the warmth of the coffee tickling his receptors. He inhaled deeply, drawing in more than the rich scent of his mug of coffee. The scent of Ryan's shampoo lingered lightly in the air.
He needed to escape from the bitter reality that he had just discovered. He could not return back to his home. The air there reeked of Gabriella's perfume and their photos would only hurt him worse.
So for some unknown reason, he was now here, next to Ryan Evans.
It was comforting to feel his presence next to him.
It calmed him.
He observed Ryan's blank expression. Normally the blond would not miss an opportunity to make a sarcastic comment but now, his lips were firmly sealed.
"Can I move in with you?" Troy asked suddenly.
Without turning his head, Ryan answered, "Sure."
Troy's eyes widened at Ryan reply.
"That does not mean I like you any better," Ryan said, eyes still glued to the list.
Author: Welcome to the actual part where the Tryan starts. Sorry if it take me so long to unite them. It would be fun to watch them living together. But the progress is kinda slow. Ryan will be difficult and Troy will be too troubled with personal problems. I guess you guys kinda predicted what Troy had seen in the photos huh? But that is not the last time you are seeing Gabriella. Shakes head. Nope. There's still little Abigail to consider. I know this is a slow chapter. Ryan's 'peculiar' was answered. He was wondering why Abby looks nothing like her ma or pa.