Disclaimer: If I owned the High School Musical Characters, they all would have kissed in the first movie.
Wildcats: All Grown Up
Chapter 10
Darkness quickly fell on Albuquerque, New Mexico. All that you heard was silence around the city. You did hear the occasionally sound of the trees swaying, the wind howling, and the rustling of the leaves but people had abandoned the streets. There was one person, however, that was walking up the walkway of 1227 Windwood Rd, looking down at the ground, looking very tired. He slowly put his key into the lock and waited for the sound of the click before very quietly and very slowly opened the door and then just the same, shut it. He looked around and, when he noticed no one was around, quietly climbed the stairs and made way for the master bedroom.
He quickly walked into the room and walked over to the closet, reaching up to grab a black duffel bag off the shelve. He walked over to the dresser, grabbing and stuffing a few days worth of clothing. He then zipped up the bag and just as quietly, walked downstairs.
As he was nearing the front door, for a quick getaway, the hall light came on. Damn it! He thought. I should have known this was going to happen.
"Troy? Is that you" A tired and weary voice called out. He didn't answer. He saw a shadow appear near the hallway closet a few feet down from where he was standing. He saw it starting to come closer until it was right in front of him. He looks up into the eyes of a woman. She looked very tired and miserable. Her eyes were bloodshot and had tearstains on them. She had bags under her eyes and her face was blotchy. He still thought she looked beautiful.
"Troy, I'm sorry I-Troy, what are you doing?" the women asked in a small, soft voice, taking note of the duffel bag in his left hand. The kids quietly ran from their bedrooms to the top of the stairs to listen in on the conversation. Their dad had finally come back after leaving this morning.
"I'm leaving" Troy told her. The kid's faces looked crestfallen. What? He can't leave! This has got to be a mistake. Troy would never walk out on his family yet it seemed he was.
"What?" she asked, not believing what was coming out of his mouth.
"I'm leaving, Gabriella" Troy said again, more confidently this time.
"What? Why are you leaving?" Gabi's lips quivered. Tears started to form on her eyelids but she refused to let them fall.
" I need a break," Troy said, trying not to look her in the eyes.
"A break from what?" She whispered, looking helplessly into his eyes.
" From this house…the kids…you" He whispered the last part.
"But…but what about the kids?" She whispered.
"They will be fine without me. You can manage without me. You always have, always will" Troy said hoarsely, starting to walk over to the door.
"What? You think you can just walk out on this family?" Gabi demanded.
"I love you, Gabi, goodbye" Troy whispered, reaching for the door handle. Gabi lost it.
"You love me? You love me? Who are you fucking kidding?" Gabi shouted. The kid's eyes went wide. Their mother was swearing. This was not a very good sign.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO SAY YOU LOVE ME? IF YOU LOVED ME, YOU WOULDN'T WALK OUT ON THIS FAMILY. WE HAD A FIGHT. SO WHAT? WE FIGHT AND MAKE UP, NOT WALK OUT ON OUR FAMILY. AND WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? WHAT THE HELL AM I SIPPOSED TO SAY TO THEM? HUH? MEGAN IS GOING TO BE HEARTBROKEN, TROY! HEARTBROKEN! AND LITTLE MICAH! HE WON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON! WHAT THE HELL TROY! HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ANY OF THIS?" Gabi screamed until she was red in the face. The kids were all silent. Tears streaming down their faces. Even Nathan, who hasn't cried since he was a little boy. He was the strong one in the family besides his mother, who only broke when it came to her husband. Her weakness. Troy was wide eyed. He couldn't believe this was quiet, shy little Gabi, his wife. Troy swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to speak.
"Gabi, I-" Troy put his hand on her forearm, trying to get her to calm down.
"Don't fucking touch me! Stay the hell away from me, Troy! You aren't my husband! He wouldn't do this to me…to us" Gabi cried, stepping back from him, anger fuming in her eyes. Troy looked at a lost on what to do. He knew he belonged here, but he didn't want to deal with the stress anymore.
"AND WHAT ABOUT ME?" Gabi cried, tears streaming down her face. "I'M YOU'RE FUCKING WIFE TROY! YOU'RE FUCKING WIFE! I LOVE YOU, GOD DAMN IT! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME? WHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE? YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULDN'T HURT ME. YOU MADE THAT VOW AT THE ALTER, TROY! THE ALTER! WELL, I GUESS YOU BROKE THAT PROMISE, TROY. AND WHAT WILL OUR PARENTS AND FRIENDS SAY WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT THEIR SON AND BEST FRIEND WALKED OUT ON HIS FAMILY? HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW, TROY BOLTON?" Gabi sobbed, collapsing on the floor. Troy just stared straight ahead. He didn't even try to comfort his wife. The kids stood there in disbelief. What the hell was their father doing? How could he do this?
The kids all ran down the stairs, running to help their mother. Troy just looked at them. Nathan and Kayla tried picking up their mom, but she just pushed them away and continued to sob. They were heard throughout the entire house.
" Get out of this house" Nathan voice was full of venom. Troy looked at him bewildered.
"Nathan, please, let me-""No, get out. You aren't my father! I don't know who you are but you aren't him. My dad wouldn't do this to us or worse, our mom. Now get out!" His voice dangerously low.
"Nate, let me explain, please..." Troy pleaded.
"Get the hell out!" Nathan shouted, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. Troy walked over to the door and opened it.
"I'll be back in a few days to check on you guys. Be there for you're mom," Troy said, looking back at them. Troy looked into the faces of all his kids. They all looked sad, hurt, mad, and worried.
"Of course we will, we know you won't. I hope what the fight was about was worth losing you're wife and kids. Oh, and don't bother coming back" Nathan said, turning his back on his dad and turning to his mother. Troy looked at his son with hurt in his eyes. A lone tear fell down his face, before he left, all the kids watching, as he walked out and closed the door behind him, never looking back.
(A/N: So sad, I know. I wanted to cry while I was writing this. Now, should I leave you in suspense and make you wait for another chapter? Mmm…I guess not. I'll let you continue reading. Lol.)
Wildcats: All Grown Up…Troy knocked three times before the door opened. Chad stood there, rubbing his sleepy eyes, taking in his best friend's teary face. They just stood there for a couple of minutes.
"Chad, who's at the door?" Taylor asked, coming up behind her husband. Her face masked surprised when she saw Troy standing there. " Troy, what are you doing here? And at 11:00 at night?"
"I need a place to stay for a little bit" Troy hoarsely replied.
"What? Why?" Taylor asked, while Chad still was just staring at his best friend.
"I left- me and Gabi fought earlier today, and I need to stay away for awhile. Please, let me stay here" Troy asked, shifting the duffel bad in his hand."Yeah, come in. You have to sleep on the couch. Sorry, but you know they are no guestrooms," Taylor said, pulling out the blankets and pillows from the hall closet.
"That's fine. Thanks Taylor, Chad. I really appreciate this. I guess I see you tomorrow. Night" Troy replied, setting his bag on the side of the couch.
"Night, Troy" They both said. They climbed the stairs and went to sleep, while Troy tossed and turned on the couch all night, thinking about everything that just happened.
Morning came quickly. Troy groaned, not wanting to get up, but got up none the less. He walked into the kitchen and greeted Taylor, who was making pancakes. Chad and the kids soon followed.
"Uncle Troy, what are you doing here?" Michael asked, noting that Aunt Gabi wasn't with him.
"Um…actually I'm going to be here a while. Me and your Aunt Gabi are trying to work some things out" Troy told his nephew. Everyone looked dumbfounded.
"You and Aunt Gabi?" Mariah asked. "That's a joke right?"
"No, it's not a joke. We are going though some issues right now," Troy said, looking at the sad faces glued to him. "So, how's school?" trying to change the subject.
"Great" The kids replied.
"Come on, kids, hurry up. We have to go soon" Chad voice rang out. They quickly gobbled their food and raced each other to the car. Once the kids were in the car, Taylor and Chad turned to Troy.
"Troy, what really happened?" Taylor asked.
"We, um, uh, we fought, and I left, thought about everything, went back last night, fought some more after I said I was leaving" Troy replied, looking everywhere but at their faces.
"What do you mean leaving? Like leaving them for good?" Taylor demanded.
"Well, not for good, just a few days but we fought again with the kids right there. Gabi was swearing up a storm. I've never seen her act like that in my whole life. The kids were pissed at me. After the fight, she collapsed; I froze and did nothing. The kids rushed down to help her and Nate yelled at me, told me to get the hell out of the house and never come back. Told me I wasn't his father, his dad would never do what I did. Said that he hoped what ever we were fighting about was worth losing my wife and kids," Troy cried. Chad and Taylor looked at him with sad eyes. Taylor put her arms around him and rubbed his back.
"Don't worry, Troy. Things will work out. Later, I'll talk to Gabi and the kids. But we have to go to work now" Taylor soothed.
"Ok, I hope you're right" Troy whispered. They got in the car and grove to East Elementary dropping off Mariah and Tyler before speeding off to East High.
Meanwhile with the Bolton's…
"Mom, you have to get up. We have school and you have work" Kayla said, shaking her mother, still not getting a response.
"Mom, please, wake up" Megan called to her mom.
"Don't go to school. I'm not going to work" came Gabi's muffled reply. The kids looked at each other. They mom never let them stay home unless they was sick. Deathly ill. Ok, maybe not deathly ill, but sick.
"Mom, we have too," Nathan said, walking into the room. (A/N: Nathan doesn't drive yet)
"No, you don't, now goodnight. I need to be left alone" Gabi waved them out. They all walked out not wanting to upset their mother. One day couldn't hurt, right?
The day passed by rather quickly. Gabi had stayed in her bedroom. She didn't come out once. Not once to check on the kids or anything. She didn't eat; she was way to depress to. The kids stayed in their rooms trying to keep themselves busy, not wanted to disrupt their mom. Nathan made the meals for them.
As the clock neared 7:00, Kayla was listening to her ipod when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket of her jeans.
Want to go out? Cool party at my friends house! – Derek
Kayla smiled and quickly replied back. She needed to get out of this house. She needed a break.
Sure, can you pick me up at the end of my street in 15?
She waited a minute before he replied.
Sure, see ya.
She smiled and closed her phone. Now the hard part, she thought. Getting out of here. She walked over to her closet, pulling out a mini denim jean skirt with a black lacy tanktop with black flats. She quickly turned on her straighter. While it was warming up, she put on her make-up. When it was ready, she quickly ran the straighter through her long brown hair. After she was done, she walked over to her mirror that hung on the back of her closet, and put her bellybutton piercing in, this time a black bar. She turned around a couple of times to confirm her outfit. She grabbed her keys and cell phone and walked to her brother's room. She knocked then walked in.
"Hey, I'm going to Aunty Shar's house, be back late. Might sleepover too. Bye" Kayla told her brother, who was sitting on his bed, playing a few cords on his guitar. He looked up.
"What? Does mom know?" Nate asked.
"No, I'm not going to bother her. I just told you, since I figured you are taking the place of dad" Kay replied.
"Alright, I guess. Call, if you need me" Nate said, going back to his guitar, not even noticing the choice of clothing she was wearing. He too, was depressed. They all were, they just had different ways of coping and showing it.
"Sure" Kay smirked and closed the door. She quickly walked out of the house and into the cold, fresh air. She walked to the end of the street and waited for Derek. She waited a couple of minutes before his car pulled up to the curb. She opened the door and climbed in.
"Hey, mmm…you look so hot" Derek leaned over and hungrily kissed her. He pushed her up against the door and ran his hand across her stomach, inching her shirt up. She pushed him away.
"We can't do this here. My Aunt and Uncle live on this street. Besides, I'm not ready" Kayla told him, putting on her seat belt, before turning on the radio. Derek sighed. Don't worry, he thought. You will get her in bed soon. He shifted the car into drive and sped off.
When they pulled up, they were faced with teenagers chatting on the grounds with cans of beer in their hands and beer cans sprawled across the lawn. There was loud music coming from inside the house. They quickly got out of the car and walked up the front steps. They opened the door and were hit with a huge cloud of smoke. Teens were all standing around, talking, drinking, and dancing. Derek put an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
Let's go" He whispered into her ear. They walked inside and veered right, into the kitchen. They walked up to the bar and grabbed a couple of cans of beer. They opened the can and gulped it down quickly. They chatted a few minutes before Derek announced he needed to go to the bathroom, and to wait for him right there. Kayla just looked around, grabbed another beer, slowly drinking it, washing the pain away. The pain from her father leaving her, her mother, all of them. Her mother staying in the room all day, not even caring about them.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Little Miss. Bolton is at a party. Aww, where's you're daddy? Did he let you come? Is he finally done being over protective?" A few kids snickered from behind them. Kayla turned around and looked at them. They were members from the Wildcat's basketball team. The one standing in the middle was Ethan. They loved coach Bolton, but that didn't mean they didn't want a piece of his daughter. Kayla's eyes glazed over at the mentioning of her father, but sucked it back in. She couldn't show weakness.
"What do you want?" She glared. Ooo's rang out.
"We want you" one stated. The rest just nodded.
"Yea, well, I'm off the market so find another one" she snapped. They smirked.
"Really?" Ethan asked. "Well, I think you're lying. We all know you don't have a boyfriend. You know you want too" he added, stepping closer to her, running his hand down her cheek.
"Please, leave me alone" Kayla said, trying to back away. He just pulled her closer. He touched her lips with his finger. "Mmm…they seem tainted. I would have thought they would be virgin lips. Who have you kissed?" He demanded.
"None of you're business. Now stay the hell away from me" she cried, desperately trying to get away from them.
"I don't think so. Now, come here baby, we will show you a good time" Ethan smirked before crashing his mouth on hers. She struggles to get lose. Thankfully her prayers were answered.
"Huntington, what the hell do you think you're doing with my girlfriend?!" Derek yelled, marching over to them. Ethan broke away from Kayla, who ran to Derek. He welcomed her with open arms. He hugged her close.
"Aww, I'm sorry. I didn't know she was yours. Does coach Bolton know?" Ethan grinned, licking his lips, staring at Kayla hungrily. Kayla cringed.
"What does that matter? Stay the hell away for her, Huntington! I mean it!" Derek shouted, getting the attention of some nearby onlookers. They grabbed a few more beers before going up the stairs, looking for an empty bedroom. The found one and went in, locking the door behind them. They sat on the bed and downed the first two.
"I feel a little woozy, Derek. I'm going to lay down" Kayla stated, climbing further up on the bed. She settled down and closed her eyes. Derek climbed up next to her.
"Kay, you're so pretty" he whispered, his face coming closer to hers.
"Thanks" She said softly before capturing his lips. They started slow, Derek running his hands through her hair; Kayla wrapping her arms around his torso. Then picked up fast, they were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't hear the fight downstairs, or the music still blaring out of the speakers. They kept continuing to kiss…
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