In the Blink of an Eye

In the Blink of an Eye

Chapter Two

Emily hadn't realised how much she missed her old life in Albuquerque until she spent some time with Chad again. She had missed his happy joking, his energetic manner, everything about him. She was worried earlier about not fitting in, about losing her place in the group. But just the first few minutes back with one of her best childhood friends convinced her that this wasn't going to be a problem. It seemed that she'd been missed s much as she had missed everyone else.

As Chad walked her to homeroom he filled her in on everything she'd missed while she'd been away. The group which had once been a trio had expanded considerably in her absence.

"Taylor McKessie? Aw, I bet you two make a sweet couple!"

"Shut up", Chad smirked, flushing a spectacular shade of red. "And whatever you do, don't mention Gabriella in front of Troy. He's really cut up about her."

The grin slid off Emily's face in an instant. "I have to see him soon. It sounds like he's really hurting."

At this point they had reached their homeroom. The teacher, a bizarre but fascinating woman named Ms. Darbus, forced her to reintroduce herself to the class. She rose unsteadily to her feet, swinging her hair into two caramel-coloured curtains around her face to avoid making eye contact with anyone. This was soooo embarrassing…

"Uh….. I'm sure most of you remember me. If not, I'm Emily Ryan. I used to live here in Albuquerque, but I moved to California a couple of years ago. And now I'm back. That's about it." She sat down abruptly and there was a stunned pause before a smattering of applause filtered through her astounded audience.

"Thank you, Miss Ryan, for that brief introduction and may I be the first to welcome you to our school. Now, to everybody else welcome back to East High. A new school year. Your last here at East High. So put it to good use! Yearbook editor Taylor McKessie would like me to remind you that a full list of yearbook requirements and deadlines are available in the English department, and Drama Club president Sharpay Evans asks that you all sign up for the Winter Musicale as soon as possible as auditions will commence in a couple of weeks. In other news", she sighed and adjusted her glasses. "I'm sure most of you are aware that a certain classmate of yours is not with us this year. Gabriella Montez has graduated a year early, and while we are extremely proud of this feat it is with great regret that I inform you all that she will not be rejoining us this semester."

There was a subdued silence, and Emily realised that many heads had turned almost reflexively toward the back corner of the room, to a seat beside the window. A figure sat there, head bent, scribbling furiously in a spiral-bound notebook. It was a boy, sprawled lethargically in his seat as though holding himself upright was simply too much of an effort. He didn't bother looking up, even though he could surely feel all the eyes trained on him; his sole focus was on the notebook in front of him.

The bell rang and finally the guy looked up, albeit unwillingly. With a lurch of her stomach, Emily realised that it was Troy.

It was Troy, and yet somehow he wasn't the same as she remembered. He had dark shadows beneath his eyes, as though he hadn't been sleeping, and his skin was palest white. Some of the light was gone from his piercing blue gaze and he looked utterly miserable.

Wow, Emily thought. This Gabriella girl must have been something truly spectacular.