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Chapter Four

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The shrill whistle blasted through the gym putting a halt to the snail like pace of the laps. The exhausted team crumpled in front of him huffing.

" Again? " A welcome voice piped up.

Troy beamed at the sight of Martha leading his old friends into the East High gym. He'd been afraid that Zeke's wife wouldn't get back in time for the wedding.

" How's your aunt doing? "

" Minor heart attack, reborn Christian for the hundredth time. " She answered. " I thought you weren't going to have practice this summer. "

" I was bored. "

It was true.

Each summer he swore there'd be no summer practice. He would try to spend it sleeping in, reading whatever horror novel caught his eye, and generally lazing about.

Each summer he lasted two days and then start running the team into the ground.

" Hey, Hoops. " Chad called, tossing his old basketball to Troy. " You forgot your ball. "

Troy caught it, smiling slightly at the feel of the leather. The ball was an apology from his best friend. One he was more than happy to accept.

" Thanks. " He said. " You left your bat in my truck. "

" I better watch that. " Chad grinned back. " By the way, your team, it sucks. "

His head dropped in disbelief.

" Hold up, I know you didn't just go there, " Alicia, the team captain, got in Chad's face. " Afro boy. "

" Easy, Richards. He didn't mean anything by it. Right, man? " The teacher hoped Chad would take the hint.

" Yeah, you're right. I meant they weren't even qualified for pee wee b-ball. "

And that was that.

There was no more hope of peace. Chad had just crossed the line, and entered no man's land.

Of course he understood where Chad was coming from. Every male basketball player during high school had a low opinion of the female players. More so about the JV team.

The problem with Chad's misconception was that he had no idea what he'd just walked into. No clue as to what was about to happen.

Simply put, it came down to three little facts.

One, starting the year after he'd taken on the JV team, the quality of skill had become Varsity level. With it rising slowly, if not steadily.

Two, for the last eight years, their game records were at an all time high. They weren't perfect, but it was close.

" I think someone needs to be schooled. " Laurel challenged.

" Bring it on! " Chad agreed.

" Chad, don't..." Martha panicked.

" Maybe you shouldn't.. " Taylor tried to stop him, catching on instantly.

" Relax, I'll take it easy on the kiddies. " Chad smirked.

" Oh, crap. " Troy cringed.

Three, well....

" Coach B.? " The Captain asked.

He sighed in defeat, and nodded.

Three, he'd run them through every endurance and speed exercise he could find or create. Including his Super Secret training method.

Wrist, ankle, and waist weights. The kind that could be increased every time the team adjusted to them. The kind they were currently stripping off.

" Come on guys, let's show them what real basketball is! " Chad clapped.

" Hell no. I'm not involved in this. " Zeke protested uselessly.

" I trained them. " Troy smirked, proud to have a way out. " Plus, someone needs to be the ref. "

" Fine, let's go guys. " Chad ran after the JV team.

" Will they be okay? " Gabe questioned coming up to him.

" They know what they're doing. " Troy chuckled, heading for the court.

One group was about to be slaughtered, and it wasn't the females.

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" Dude, not cool! Ow!! " Chad hissed around the ice pack on his left jaw. " You should have warned me! "

" I tried. " Troy snickered at the guys laying bonelessly in the middle of the court. " Besides, you should be happy they took it easy on you. "

" Easy?! " Jason gaped. " That was easy? "

" What the hell did you do to them? " Chad demanded.

" Sorry, it's a Super Secret training method. Not even dad knows it. " He solemnly said to the understanding nods of his old team.

" Oh shut up. " Taylor grumbled. " It was just some stupid body weights. "

" Hey! Those are Super Secret body weights. " Troy protested.

" Yeah, yeah. " Taylor brushed off, kicking Chad in the ribs. " Stop being such a big baby and get up. "

" Careful, wounded player here! "

" Don't expect me to feel sorry for you. You brought it on yourself. "

Troy strode over to his gym bag, and began to repack it.

" You tell them about the leg yet? " Martha whispered.

" I should probably wait until after the big day. "

" Troy..."

" Do you really want Sharpay within fifty feet of Gabe if she knows what happened? "

He saw the dawning horror on Martha's face. It wasn't that hard to figure out what would happen, but his friend obviously needed the gentle reminder.

" Might be fun. " Martha started to smirked.

" Right, a wedding and a funeral. " He remarked dryly. " I somehow don't think Gabe would look good in stripes "

" Fine, I'll warn the others. Just don't wait too long. "

" Wait too long for what? " Gabriella wrapped her arms around Troy.

" The bachelor party. " Martha easily lied. " Kels wants her fiancée sober for the wedding. "

She didn't buy a word of it. Gabe had been extremely suspicious since the confrontation with her mom. Troy's own jittery behavior hadn't helped matters.

Troy was just thankful that he had worn track pants for practice. Otherwise Sharpay would be facing certain death.

Frankly, he wasn't sure he'd stop her.

The teacher had let the incident go because it had been an accident. A very preventable accident that was made worse by her fleeing, but an accident.

He wasn't perfect, though. There was a lot of anger at her actions. Enough blame to cover America, and a heap of resentment.

Despite that, he didn't want revenge. All he wanted was peace, and the ability to live his life a day at a time.

" So any particular reason you guys visited, or did you just miss my handsome face? " He awkwardly joked.

" The guys wanted to see you. "

" You told them. " He translated.

" No reason not to. " Gabe snuggled tighter to him. " Besides I want to see you in action. "

" No you don't. " Martha assured. " It's boring, and he gets all hyper. "

" Really? When's your next practice? " Gabe turned large brown eyes up at him.

" Tomorrow at two. " He gave in.

" You're so whipped. " Jason laughed.

" If you're done ribbing me, we should probably save the happy couple from Mrs. Evans. "

" I have a couple of jokes left. There's the S&M comparisons, the required cracks about your manhood, and the snide jokes regarding your likeness to animals. "

Troy stared blankly at the serious Jason. His friend had just discovered a new level of stupidity, and it would forever be named after him.

" Jason, do me a favor. Next time you have a joke, if you think it's funny, don't tell it. "

" Why? "

" You'll get more girls. " Troy said truthfully.

" Cool. "

Now if only he could figure out how to keep Sharpay far away from Gabe, life would be perfect.

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" Mom, no!! " Ryan argued. " We want to keep it simple!! "

" I'm keeping it to the bare essentials. "

Troy approached the family with caution.

Ryan was visibly stressed out. Immaculate hair was missing today's hat of choice, and his clothes were lacking a certain...flair.

" Three hundred people is not simple! "

" We have a lot of contacts to keep happy. If we snub them they'll be offended. " Mr. Evans lectured.

" May I make a suggestion? " Troy cut in.

Four seats of eyes focused on him. Three in welcome, and one with disgust. Just a normal Evans clan gathering.

" What's he doing here? " Sharpay sneered.

Gabriella shifted beside him, the slightest tension running through her body. She tightened a hand on his arm. The single warning of her frayed emotions darkening fast.

" He is my best man. " Ryan sneered back.

" You had a suggestion, Troy? " Mrs. Evans chirped.

" Set up a special viewing for your contacts. Use one of the more comfortable rooms here at the club, and broadcast the wedding live. " Troy explained. " Have waiters serving appetizers and wine, or champagne. Basically, play it up like it's a huge favor. "

" It's stupid. " Sharpay responded.

" It's perfect. " Ryan relaxed slightly.

" We could have a candle lit atmosphere. Maybe some background music. " Mrs. Evans ran with it.

" Excellent idea. " Mr. Evans approved.

" They'll hate it. " Sharpay stubbornly held out.

" What about the clubs movie theatre? " Troy continued. " It has those great chairs, that alone would make your guests happy. "

" It would be easy to get it ready. " Mrs. Evans agreed.

" Not to mention the enourmous HD screen. " Ryan happily pulled his white fedora back on.

Troy winked at the tired Kelsi. The Playmaker was partially hidden behind the dining room piano. A coping defense if there ever was one.

The composer mouthed back a silent thank you.

" It's ridiculous. Daddy, you're not really going to listen to some Frankenstein monster, are you? " Sharpay pouted at her father.

BANG!! THUNK!!

A piano was not designed to make that noise. Muchless at the hands of the Playmaker.

" Sharpay!! " Ryan roared.

" Oh please, I'm only saying what you're thinking. Nobody could possibly want a self-mutilating freak involved with a wedding. "

Troy stiffened at the leer directed at him. He hated the crass words, but he hated the spark of self doubt more.

" Go to Fulton's office, and wait for me. " Mr. Evans ordered sharply. " Go!! "

" Well, that went smoothly. " Troy smiled weakly.

" I'll talk to her again. " Mr. Evans swore.

It wouldn't do any good. Troy knew that, Ryan knew that, and so did Mr. Evans.

They couldn't go on like that. It had to stop. The comments, the back stabbing, it just...

It just needed to end.

" Can I try? " Troy asked.

" I'm not sure that's a good idea. " Mr. Evans hesitated.

" It has to be done. " Troy separated from Gabe. " We've let this get out of control. "

" What's going on here? " Taylor inquired.

" I'll explain later. " Troy promised, heading for the office.

Much later.

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There were a lot of things he'd considered when he entered the office. A yelling match, getting scratched to death, another attempt at blackmail.

This wasn't one of them.

For just a brief moment, he'd seen her face. Unguarded, honest, and so rendered with guilt that it was staggering.

Just for an instant.

" What do you want? " Sharpay glared.

" We can't keep doing this. "

" What? Sawing off limbs? What's the matter, your knife getting dull? Want me to buy you another? "

He could see it now that he knew where to search. The flash of guilt, a slight shake in her strong voice, the tiny shimmer in her steady hand.

Troy didn't get it. If she was feeling like that then why the prank Senior year? Why did she attack him constantly?

" Or are you on another flesh burning kick? Did you run out of skin to scar? "

" I never blamed you. "

" Wh-what? "

" I don't blame you. It was an accident. "

He calmly gazed at the conflicted blond. The emotions were flickering so quickly he couldn't begin to identify them.

" What are you babbling about? "

" You're not making this easy. " Troy murmured, hopping onto Fulton's desk. " Look, as bad as you are, you aren't a killer. "

" Nothing happened that I didn't intend to. " Sharpay denied.

" So you were trying to kill me? " Troy curiously asked.

" I don't lose. Not to you, not to my brother, not to anyone. " Sharpay ripped into him. " You crossed a line Bolton, and you had to be stopped! "

" I defended myself! "

" And I care why? "

" We need to stop this. " Troy tried a different approach. " You can't let the guilt eat at you anymore, and I can't keep ignoring my reflection. "

" You think I feel guilty? For what? Your little fall? Leaving you to pick yourself up? Please, the only one to blame is you. " Sharpay laughed. " You wanted to swim with the big boys and you got hurt. "

" Shar..."

" Go back to the shallow end, freak, " Sharpay stormed off. " because next time there won't be a lifeguard to save you. "

Troy fell back on the desk with a scream of frustration.

" Women! "

He would never, ever, understand them. Nor did he want to.

They were just plain weird.

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" So? " Gabriella scooted closer to him on the bench overlooking the golf course.

" So? " He lightly bumped into her side.

" You want to tell me why Sharpay is trying to tear you apart? "

He flinched minutely at the unintentional jab.

As he'd gotten older, the high of being alive faded. Troy had started to feel self-conscious about his injuries.

It was little things in the beginning. The way tighter shirts laid on him. How his pants hung over his artificial leg. The swelling of his scars during the colder months.

Gradually he'd noticed the bigger stuff. The glances when he shouldn't have seen, or the not quite nice chuckles from the freshmen at East High.

Oh, Troy dealt, just like always. As required of him. Just chugging along, pretending it didn't hurt him.

" It's complicated. " He stiffly answered.

" Dumb it down. "

" We're having a small disagreement. "

' For ten years. '

" About? "

" The value of life. "

It was the truth, more or less.

He thought life was worth the cost of a leg. Sharpay didn't.

Semantics.

" Ah. "

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. That had sounded a little too smug for his comfort.

It meant Gabriella was playing detective again. She was collecting clues, putting them together, and she was getting closer to an answer.

" Well, whatever's going on, she was in a snit after your discussion. "

" This is new? "

" Okay, she was in a... a contemplative snit. " She corrected.

" Ah. " He teased.

" Don't make fun. " She poked him viciously in the ribs.

" Watch it, Montez. " He stuck his tongue out. " I remember your ticklish spots. "

" You wouldn't! "

" Oh, wouldn't I? "

He lunged at her, but hit the ground face first as she skillfully dodged.

" Don't you dare! "

Troy pushed himself to his feet, chasing her. He remained slow enough that he never quite caught her, his fingertips brushing at her back or arm once in a while.

Delighted laughter and giggling made it harder to remain on their feet. Stumbling at times, but content to be teenagers again.

At least for the moment.

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" When was the last time you talked to Sharpay? " Troy cornered Ryan. " Not argued, but talked. "

" Ten years ago. Why? "

" I think she needs you. "

Troy backed up as Ryan exploded into motion. The blond pacing wildly around the small dance studio.

" She tried to kill you, and you want me to play brother to her? Have you lost your mind? "

" She feels guilty, and it's destroying her, Ry. "

" Let it! " He thundered. " She went too far, and there is no going back. "

" She doesn't need to. She just needs to be forgiven. Starting with you. "

" Why the hell can't you be selfish for once in your miserable life? Just stop trying to save everyone!!!"

" The night Gabriella broke up with me she said. ' If you act like someone you're not, then pretty soon that becomes who you are.' " Troy refused. " She was right, and I won't let myself fall into that trap. "

" It's not happening, Troy!! "

Troy frowned at his friends words. The performer had taken Sharpay's actions hard, too hard really.

At the time they weren't friends yet. Ryan was just coming out from his sisters shadow. The guy trying to find his own path.

So why had he been hit so hard?

" It was never about me, was it? " He whispered in shock. " It was about you. About how she treated you... No, about her abandoning you. "

" What? " Ryan froze. " No, of course not. Why would I care? "

" Because she's your twin. " Troy finally understood. " You were rarely apart until that summer. You did everything together. "

" I...."

" You did everything she ever asked of you. You gave her your loyalty. Your unwaivering support. You never gave your opinion, just accepted what she said, " Troy went on. " and she threw you away. "

" No, I... "

Troy smiled with a touch of sadness.

During such a dark time, Ryan and Kelsi's friendship had kept him sane. They visited him twice a day in the hospital, kept his secrets, and helped him heal emotionally.

He'd always wondered at Ryan's appearance in his life. The sudden loyalty. The support of a brother. Troy hadn't wanted to question it, though. The teacher had needed it far too much, and didn't want to rock the boat.

Well, he had his answers.

Ryan had been searching for a replacement. A surrogate twin to cling to. Someone that needed him as much as Sharpay had.

In the middle of a crisis, Troy had easily fit that role.

It was a bittersweet realization.

" Go play the hero, Ry. "

" Troy, I swear..."

He waved off the stricken twin. There was a little hurt that he'd been nothing more than a replacement, but the teacher in him understood the situation.

" We're okay, " He reassured his friend. " but she's not. So go. "

They may be okay, but his trust in Ryan would take time to repair. Especially if Sharpay was in the picture.

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" OW!! " Troy covered his head from the stack of music sheets. " Kelsi, stop!! "

" You bloody....stupid....moronic....fool. "

He ducked as the papers came down harder with each word.

" What the hell were you thinking? " She demanded, dropping the papers onto the dance studio piano. " Why would you have Ryan go after his twin? "

He straightened back up with an apologetic grin. The coach was aware of how protective his friend could be.

" You didn't see it, Kels. For just a second she dropped her mask. "

" And what? She seemed sweet and cuddly? So's a Siamese cat, but the minute your backs turned, they'll rip your furniture apart. "

" The guilt is eating her alive.... "

" Let it. She deserves every shred of guilt she feels. " Kelsi argued.

" ...and it's doing the same to Ryan. "

" W-what? "

Troy tiredly sat on the piano bench. The chaos of the day taking it's toll on his body.

" Ryan has known for awhile, and he's done nothing to help her. The guilt from that alone is tearing him apart. "

" I know. " She reluctantly admitted. " I knew, I just... "

" You weren't sure what to do. " He supplied. " You could get him to go to Sharpay, someone that you believed capable of killing, or you could let him suffer. "

" What if he decides he doesn't want me? " She whispered.

" He loves you. Enough to give up Julliard. "

" And Sharpay? If she tells him to get rid of me? "

" He'll push her into the pool. "

Kelsi slumped forward onto the side of the piano.

" Tell you what, if Ryan won't push her in, then I will. " He offered cheerfully. " I'll even wait until she's in that horrible sequined outfit of hers. "

" If it comes to that, I'll do it myself. " Kelsi smiled weakly. " I've let her walk over me long enough. "

" You sure? "

" Yeah. I just need to find some Irish courage. "

He laughed as she left with a nervous stride. It seemed the Playmaker was about to become the Point Guard.

" Good for her. "

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