Chapter 2: Troy

Sometimes the Holiday seasons made him lonely. Actually, every Holiday made him lonely. It didn't matter that he was the captain of the Lakers and it didn't matter that he was rich and famous and it definitely didn't matter that he was going into the NBA Hall-of-Fame. Everything that mattered to him was left behind; he left them behind. Little did he know that one choice to leave would affect him so much. She was supposed to be just another girl-friend of his.

But she wasn't.

No matter how hard he tried, she was still in his mind. But he couldn't face her. He couldn't even look at her posters posted throught America. Dating girls, especially cute ones, also didn't help. They only had a year together, unlike the eleven years they were supposed to have. Skipping out on her, during her pregnancy, ten years wasn't the smartest idea because she's getting married, living in New York and he's having his dream career, living in LA. They were on opposite sides of the country.

Troy wished she still felt that same way about him, just like high school. But who would still love him after what he did? Abandoning her, especially in her time of need. The time they really needed each other.

Leaving her resulted in so much things. He remembers all the phone calls from his dad, Troy! You better go your butt back in College, with Sharpay! You do not abandon your family!

His mom, Troy, dear, can you please come back? Everyone is worried sick about you and, Sharpay, well, she's heart-broken! I have no idea what you were or what you are thinking, but please, come back, for her sake.

Gabriella, Chad, Ryan and Taylor, Where the hell are you? Get your ass back here before we drag it back here! You bastard, you freakin' left my sister! She's 18 years old, she can't raise a child by herself!

And her, Troy... Where are you? I know why you left. But I'm not ready too but I'm not giving up this child. But if you really don't want to come back, I guess this is good-bye, from the both of us...

This wasn't the time to think about this. Not now, not in a middle of a game.

x-x-x-x

Troy sluggishly walked up to his car. He lost; the Lakers lost and it was all his fault. He could've made the shot, if he wasn't so busy thinking about the past. But he just can't help it, it keeps happening and he can't control them anymore. As he sat down, he banged his head on the steering wheel. The car honked and caught the other players of guard. Troy Bolton was losing it, losing everything because of his stupid decision. NBA wasn't right for him anymore, it just wasn't.

He stepped out of his car and bolted to the coach of the Lakers, who was just coming into the parking lot. The coach looked awful, losing the game hit him hard. Troy stopped the coach from opening his car door. The coach, who knew the expression held on Troy's face all too well, knew what was coming. He would just have to bear with it.

"Coach," Troy said, looking the the man straight in the eyes.

"Troy..."

Troy looked around at his teammates, who were also staring at him. "I have to quit this." The teammates gasped and the coach lowered his head.

"Why?"

Troy lowered his eyes and looked at the ground. He could hear whispering. They were right, he's lost his passion. "I feel like there's something missing. Something that I can't find..."

The coach rubbed his head and looked around at his team. They all had the same look on their faces. It was time for Troy to go but he didn't want him to go. Losing a team player was one thing but losing the captain was another. Especially during the prime of Troy's game. "The spot will always be open for you. If you decide to come back."

The brunette turned his back, ready to go. "I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon."

"So, I guess this is good-bye."

"Yeah, it is." Then he walked away. Some teammates patted him on back, while others yelled good-bye.

Not only were they going to lose their captain, their best player but the one that held them together. Troy usually stopped every fight, every little argument between players and even the coach. When they would practice, he would work hardest and push people to work harder too. When they lost a game, he usually was the one who told them not to have a long face. Troy was like the rainbow after a rain storm. But lately, they noticed him losing that ray of happiness. When they lost, he would barricade himself in the locker room, punching the lockers and throwing equipment around. The team truly knew that it was Troy's time to go but they had faith he would come back.

x-x-x-x

They had a slight lay over because something was wrong with Nate. He was beginning to have a panic attack. Sharpay should have known better. She should have brought some emergency personnel along to help him. But all the plane had were stupid First Aid Kits. Instead, they would arrive a day later in New Mexico. But it was for Nate's sake and she didn't want to lose him. He was her everything. No one could ever take his place.

No one.

Nate, who was taken to the nearest yet best hospital in that state, was sleeping soundly with Sharpay and Chris by his side. Nate has been taken to the hospital many times, mostly when their on airplanes. Sharpay tried everything to help him but nothing worked. He would always freak out, begin to shake violently and then collaspe.

A nurse walked, to check on his progress. She was holding a newspaper in hand. "Here's the paper you asked for, Mr. Andrews."

"Thank you," Chris replied, taking the grey paper and looking at the front page. "Holy crap." Sharpay looked up at him. "Did you hear, Troy quit the lakers..."

Sharpay's eyes widen. Troy quitting the Lakers. Impossible. "Really? Why is that?"

Chris flipped through some pages but it didn't really say why. "Doesn't say. It just says that Troy quit last night after the basketball game. You know, the basketball game you yelled at Nathan to turn off..."

The blonde ignored the last part. News travels extremely fast. "Well, he was getting older, so I'm not surprised that he quit. Must be his health and all."

Her boy-friend snickered. "Are you kidding me? His only twenty-eight, same age as you, two years younger than me. He's not old and plus, do you see him play? He could dribble circles around his younger teammates."

"Oh, you're sounding like Nate! Who cares what Troy Bolton does with his life!?"

x-x-x-x

What should he do now? He had no career anymore. What else was there to do?

Troy flipped through his phonebook. Maybe calling his parents would be the best. He hasn't really contacted them, even though they've tried to many times. All failures. Troy couldn't bring himself to talk to them, to hear their voices. He missed ten years with them, he doesn't even know what they look like anymore. He doesn't know if his dad has grey hair, if his mom was baking her heart out. Troy missed out on a lot of stuff.

"Good afternoon, Bolton residence, Trinity speaking."

"Sis!" Troy exclaimed. Trinity was older than him by a year, yet she still lived at their parents home. "You're still living there!?"

Trinity scoffed. "I came to visit, little brother... Wait, Oh my God! Troy! How have you been? Mom and dad have been missing you! Why haven't you've been calling them back, young man!?"

"I am, but some loud mouth answered the phone..." Troy teased. After everything that his missed, Trinity stayed the same. "So how are you? Married yet? Any kids?"

"No, I'm not married, seeing someone, but still not pregnant..." Trinity sighed. "I can't have kids Troy..."

Troy sighed too. He knew how much his sister wanted kids, how much she loved kids and to be related to someone who left his unborn child, made her see him in a different light. Sure, he was still her lovable younger brother but there was a certain trust she lost for him. Even though she wasn't the one really abandoned, it sadden her that Troy takes things for granted. "I quit the Lakers, sis."

Trinity coughed and Troy heard some papers being ruffled around. "I heard, actually, I read, reading it right now." How many things could Troy quit. College, fatherhood, family and now his career? "So, why'd you call up, little brother?"

"I'm moving back, hopefully, mom and dad would let me stay there for a while, until I find my own place, of course," Troy replied.

"Well, if they don't let you back because dad hold's grudges, you can always stay by my place. You can have the couch in my living room!" Trinity teased, but it was true. Troy was welcome at her place but he would have to sleep on the couch. "Anywhoo, mom and dad aren't here right now. I just came by to pick up some mail of mine that still gets sent here."

At the same time when she was explaining her unimportant reason for being there, Troy also spoke. "I going there now. My flight's at 12:00pm..."

"WHAT!? You just can't come here so suddenly!"

"I'll see you there then, Trinity."

x-x-x-x

Troy entered his private jet, luggage in hand. All his furniture was left behind, under his agent's care. His possessions weren't important right now. Right now, what mattered the most was going back home, setting things right again, fixing the drift he left with all the people he loves. Well, almost all of them. He wasn't ready to see Sharpay. He couldn't go to New York and ask her for forgiveness. Plus, she might shoot him if she ever laid eyes on him. It made him wonder what his son thought about him. Nathan Evans. Sure, it hurt him when Sharpay gave Nate her last name but it was his own good. Leaving her implied that he didn't want their child.

It wasn't that he didn't want Nathan, he wasn't ready to become a father. He was young and ready to become a basketball star back then. Now, he's an ex-basketball star and his not even a father.

He turned on the TV. It was on the entertainment channel. Good thing, he needed some entertainment in his life right now.

Well, folks, last night was Sharpay Evans last night performing with her theatre production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. We caught up with Sharpay right after the show with her son and fiance.

"That was a brilliant performance Sharpay. We surely will miss you," the lady said, bringing the mic. up to Sharpay's mouth. Beside her was tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes. On her other side was a young boy, blonde hair and blue eyes too, looking bored at the camera.

Sharpay laughed. "Thank you. I surely will miss performing but I'm spending more time with the two men in my life." She looked over to Chris and smiled and down at Nate and rubbed his head. His expression was unphased. He was bored.

"That's good to hear. You guys totally look like a happy family. Father and son look so much alike," the lady spoke, laughing at the end, not seeing Nate's angry face.

"I know! Don't they?" Sharpay joined in.

Troy changed the channel. How dare she say that? How dare she lie to the world. Great, now he doubted Nate actually knew who his real father was. Somehow, instead of wanting to see her again, he wanted to scream to the world that Sharpay Evans was nothing but a liar. And that Nathan Evans is hi son not that man's son.Was this revenge on him for what he did? If it was, she sure knows where to hit him hard. Then again, he deserved it. What if Sharpay walked out on him and Nate.

How could he ever really hate her? He had no good reason. All his reason were stupid, especially when he thought them over. However, right now, he shouldn't think about her. Thinking about her wasn't helping him move on.

And he needed to move on.

x-x-x-x

A women, about in her late twenties, jogged up the porch steps of a plain white house with a red door. She banged on it hard and she panting for breath. She blew away her honey brown hair from her eyes and awaited for the door to open. When it did, a lovely women, maybe younger than her, opened the door. She was holding a bowl, an egg beater and wearing an apron. But on her face was the same expression she had when she looked weirdly at Chad. "Trinity, what are you doing here?" Taylor asked, resting the bowl against her hip.

"Troy's." It was difficult to talk when you ran two blocks to someone's house. Maybe taking her car would've been a smart idea. But exercise couldn't hurt anyone. "Coming back from LA!" she finished off, rushing the last part of her sentence. She stumbled in and rested against the bright red door.

"Wait, hold up!" Taylor said. "First he quits his dream job and now his coming back home! He hasn't been here since he-he.."

"-left Sharpay," Trinity finished, getting her breath back.

Something then hit the both of them at the same time. No, it wasn't a baby's cry or Chad's yelling. It was something that Gabriella and Ryan told them a few weeks ago. "Sharpay's coming back too!" they both screamed at once, catching Chad's attentiong from the living room. He was just as confused as ever. Girls screaming something never meant a good thing, so he knew. "

"Just think what could happen if they ever see each other again," Trinity wondered.

"I could," Taylor said. "I could see Sharpay glaring at him and walking all over him!" Then she thought of something. She's always believed in fate and in destiny and right now, the situation with Troy and Sharpay seemed pretty much like destiny and fate. "Isn't it odd thought?" she asked, leading Chad, who knew nothing of the conversationa nd Trinity into the kitchen, "that the last night of Sharpay's play, it's Troy's late game and that they both decide to come back here. Sharpay to start over with her family and-"

"Troy to start over with his life and make amends to everyone's his hurt," Trinity finished.

Chad butted in. He needed to know what was going on. "What's is going on!?"

Just as they were about to answer him, Trinity's cell-phone rang. "Hello, Trinity speaking," she said as she flipped open another new cell-phone of her's. "Oh, hi mother. Yeah, that's my car in the driveway, who else could it belong to? That's a good question. Why don't I have my car? Well, you see, I was in a rush so I ran to Chad's place. Yes, mom, I know it doesn't make sense but- I know my health mom! God, will you just- Troy's coming back from LA! Mom, are you still there... Mom?" She hung up the phone and placed back into her pocket. "She'll be fine."

As she was talking on the phone, Taylor explained everything to Chad, in the easiest way possible, without her head exploding.

"There's going to be trouble in paradise that's for sure," Chad said.

He was right.

x-x-x-x

Finally, he arrived. After a long flight, Troy was finally in his home town. It's one step closer to making amends to his loved ones. Just being there made him 10x happier than in LA. Troy stepped into his rented car, sadly, he had to leave his car behind but he was ready for a new start. So, he needed new things. Now, where would he go now? Home? Not yet. Well, he did need some more caffine, so a stop by his favourite coffee shop shouldn't hurt.

After ten years, he still remembered how to get there. He parked and entered. It was still the same. The smell of fresh dounuts and coffee made him smile. A real smile, a feels-like-home smile. As he stepped into the line, he didn't notice the lady in front of him and how familiar her back side looked. Troy was too busy looking through his wallet for some bills. Five dollars should be fine for a small coffee and bagel. Smelling in the scent made him hungry.

Not noticing the line wasn't moving, Troy took two steps and bumped into the lady in front of him. "Gabriella?"

Gabriella's eyes grew wide. "Troy!? What on earth are you doing here!?" she said loudly, shocking her two kids.

"I don't know my car just took me here," he said and then added, "because I wanted some coffee."

If they were on friendly terms, Gabriella would have laughed and then slapped him hard but she just slapped him. "No, I meant here, in Albuquerque!"

"I'm starting over with my life and making amends with the people I've hurt..." Troy replied looking at her, dead in the eyes. "I'm sorry, Gabriella."

Gabriella shook her brunette head and turned back around to face the counter. "Don't say sorry to me. You didn't do anything to hurt me. Sure, it hurt having your best-friend leave so suddenly. Sure, it hurt having your best-friend leave your other best-friend, who happened to have been pregnant. But you didn't hurt me as much as you hurt Sharpay... Not even close." She turned back around and lightly patted his cheek. "Troy, I do not forgive you. I don't forgive for leaving her! You made her feel unwanted, worthless and most importantly unloved!"

"Gab-" Troy tried to some her down, but she was on a roll. Everyone in the coffee shop was staring and whispering about them. Gabriella's own kids had walked away from the scene.

"How could I ever forgive you!? You just can't come here and think everything could be solved by two little words!" She grabbed onto the collar of his jacket and shook him. "You didn't see the pain I saw when I looked into her eyes! You didn't fucking hear her cry, every night, wishing you would come back! You weren't there when she needed you the most! You weren't there, holding her hand when she was in the hospital, in labour, in absolute pain. She was a total wreck. The emotial pain of you leaving, was even greater than the physical pain she was having when she gave birth! And now you come here, expecting everything would be alright! After everything you've done, all the pain you caused her, my best-friend, you think I could forgive you!?"

Gabriella ranting, yelling and swearing like this was unlike her. Troy didn't realize how much pain his caused and how Gabriella was holding on to all those feelings of hatred she held for him. Just think what Sharpay was holding in. He didn't say anything, he couldn't say anything. She was right, she was always right.

"I won't forgive you. Not unless she does," Gabriella said, her voice calm and clear. She turned to leave but Troy held onto her arm.

"Gabby, please, listen to me. You just have to hear me out, please..." he begged.

She opened her mouth to say 'no' but she didn't. Even though he did all those things, he was still her friend. Deep down, through her rant, she knew Troy must've had a reason and she knew Troy was feeling horrible about leaving her. But she just needed to let those things off her chest. She hated keeping things bottled up. She wasn't going to let Troy think he could fix everything so quickly. "Fine, Troy."

Gabriella didn't hate him, she just didn't like him or trust him as much as before. She hated his side, his side of always leaving and quitting. Gabriella would never take back the words she said to him because it's the truth and he needed to know that. She wanted to get it through his thick skull; everything he's done and everything he's needed to know. Sure, there were much better ways of saying things but yelling seemed to get it through his head the most.

"Let's take a seat first..."

"Here, let me introduce you to your-" he wasn't related but he somewhat was related through Nate, "niece, Liesl and nephew, Fredrick."

"Hi, I'm, um," he looked over at Gabby, who looked like she knew what he wanted he wanted to say. She nodded. "Your uncle Troy."

I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry for any mistakes, I truly am. But I'm just too lazy to check over them.

Yes, Gabriella had a little rant and she swore! I needed to make her more deeper than her Disney Character persona. I just added a bit of myself into her because if someone did that to my best friend, I would be super pissed off. Just like her. Her sudden change in personality at the end was because she still thinks of Troy as her friend and she has good heart so, yeah.

I wanted Troy to have an older sister, who was childish, yet through that she made him realize so much, without any screaming. And her lost of trust for him, is like a child sadden by a broken promise. She's somewhat more innocent then Disney Gabby but she has the Sharpay streak sometimes about if you really piss her off. Like really.

Thanks for reading!

-Aj