Troy entered Darbus's room 15minutes late. He just walked in and sat at the desk nearest to the door. He had to go or the school would tell his mum and she would make a big deal out of it.

"Nice of you to join us Mr. Bolton." Troy said nothing.

"Perhaps you would care to explain why you are 15 minutes late for my class?" Troy mumbled something inaudible with a scowl on his face. Both Em and Gabi were in the class and he wasn't going to tell Darbus he was outside smoking to try and distract himself from his emotions.

"What was that Mr. Bolton? Perhaps you would also like to explain why my precious corner of musicale appreciation in east high suddenly smells of tobacco?"

"Yeah, shove it up your arse." He was not in the mood for this.

"DETENTION BOLTON! 45 MINUTES!"

"Gee, can't wait." Troy said very sarcastically.

"GET OUT!"

"With pleasure!" Troy said grabbing his bag and walking out the door. He continued down the hall. He had 35 minutes before he had history and he needed to kill time. He went out to the oval and sat against a large tree around the back of the school. In the distance he could see what he knew was the window of Darbus's room, but he couldn't see in because the light was reflecting on it harshly. He pulled his deck out of his bag and lit a cigarette. He leant back against the tree closing his eyes; he raised his chin and let out a long breath of smoke, letting it soothe his mind. He relaxed feeling the warm afternoon sun breaking through the fading storm clouds and beaming on his face, and the slight head spin from the cigarette which allowed him to momentarily not have to worry. He sighed and took another long drag. He looked down at the blue packet of his deck and how the light reflected off it. His eyes were a little blurry, but in a few seconds they would return to normal. Every drag was like a 10 second high which wasn't much, but enough to make him content for the moment. He wasn't sure if he used to smoke, but he didn't think so or it wouldn't have such a strong effect on him. Jason cross looked out the window and saw Troy on the grass smoking. He had been a jerk to Troy: he would be the first to admit it. But he had seen his brother take the same path Troy had not 2 years earlier, and his only way of coping was to distance himself from Troy. But he knew it was the wrong thing to do because it meant Troy had almost died, and it only increased his guilt. He raised his hand.

"Miss, can I please have a pass?" He asked. She nodded and handed him a slip of paper and he left. He took the same path Troy had and walked across the oval trying to think of what to say. He wanted to apologise while he had the chance to be alone with Troy, but he was also scared that Troy might hate him for his behaviour: that is, if he could remember him. He came up and stood about a metre from Troy.

"Hey." Troy took in a large drag, and slowly breathed out, not looking at Jason.

"Can I help you?" He said finally.

"Um, I don't know if you remember, I'm Jason, we were on the basketball team together."

"I know who you are, what do you want?" Troy said abruptly.

"Um, well, can I sit?"

"It's a free country." Troy said, sucking in another breath through his durry. Jason sat down next to Troy, and paused before he spoke.

"So, um, not that it means much, but, uh, I'm really sorry for how I acted towards you. I was wrong and I should have stuck by you." Troy stayed silent.

"You probably don't remember, but I have an older brother that used to go here."

"I remember."

"Well, I know it means nothing or anything, and I don't expect you to forgive me or anything but uh… I just wanted to tell you why I acted the way I did. 2 years ago, my brother started acting strangely and stuff, and he became distant. He got violent and took drugs and… well it really scared me. And it hurt me. We had always been so close and everything and suddenly he pushed me out, and he would bully me, and I didn't know why he wouldn't let me help. When you started, you know, acting weird, I got so scared. I couldn't go through that again, I just, I couldn't do it. So I tried to distance myself from you, so I wouldn't get hurt. But it wasn't working cuz as mean as I was to you, you were still just acting nonchalantly to me. So I started being really cruel to you to make you hate and yell at me so that I would have a reason to hate you. But I just ended up feeling worse, and you almost died. I know it isn't an excuse, but we've been friends for like 10 years, and I just didn't want you to think I acted terribly for no reason. Anyway, I better go…" With that he stood up and began to walk away. Until he heard Troy speak.

"Jase… Thanks, you know." Jason understood, even though Troy hadn't said much. It was all going to be okay with them. He nodded at Troy and returned to Darbus's class.

After a few more cigarettes, Troy heard the bell go for history. He walked into the classroom and noticed the teacher hadn't arrived yet. He took the only spare seat in the classroom, next to one of the guys in the science club who he knew only by sight. Troy gave him a small nod hello and sat down. Chad and Gabi were in this class, but he wasn't really interested in talking to them; he just wanted the day to end. At that moment Jack Bolton entered the room. He noticed Troy was in class and gave him a small nod.

"Good afternoon class, I am subbing for Mrs. Callanhan as she went home at lunch ill. She didn't leave anything for you to complete so please go on with homework from another class or quiet reading." Troy was pretty relieved, and apparently so was the rest of the class. Troy let out a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. The boy next to him got some work out and was busy completing it, however the rest of the class just seemed to be talking amongst themselves. After about 5 minutes he leaned over and picked up the book that belong to the boy next to him ('When Dogs Cry') and read the back cover. After reading the back he spoke up.

"Any good?" The boy turned to face him, as though shocked he was speaking to him.

"Um… yeah no it's great you can borrow it if you want, I finished it last period."

"You sure?"

"Yeah really."

"Ok thanks, I'll take you up on that. I'm Troy."

"Yeah, I know." Troy gave him a weird look. "Well, um, I was the one who found you, on the roof that day. And I called the ambulance."

"Oh, sorry you had to see that."

"It's ok, I uh, just hope you don't hate me for, you know, ruining your plans."

"Not that I can change it now, but it's fine, thanks… Lets start over, I need some new friends…" He held his hand out to the boy. "Hi I'm Troy Bolton." The boy gave him a strange look but decided to take him up on his offer, I mean, it was Troy Bolton.

"Mike Hornburg." He said shaking Troy's hand. Troy nodded.

"So, whatcha doing? Something scientific?"

"Hahaha sort of. Me and the science club accidentally blew up the east science lab yesterday in an experiment gone wrong and now I have to write an apology letter to the principal." Troy let out a small laugh. He hadn't laughed in a while so it felt weird, but it was pretty funny. Mike let out a shy smile. He stopped as he saw Jack approaching. He walked up to Troy, and his facial expression changed.

"You wreak of cigarettes."

"So, what's it to ya?" Jack didn't answer as mad as he was. Smoking would affect Troy's basketball as soon as he started again.

"I'd give you a detention but you have training this afternoon."

"Sorry, I'm already booked."

"What do you mean booked?"

"I have detention with Darbus."

"Fine then we'll train when you get home."

"What if I don't want to."

"We'll train when you get home. Do I make myself clear?" Jack said through gritted teeth.

"Clear as glass." Troy said snidely. "In fact, I can see right through you." Troy opened the book Mike had lent him and began to read, so Jack walked away steaming. 40 minutes late the bell went signalling the end of school. Troy exited the classroom quickly in case Jack was trying to talk to him. He walked up to his locker to put his bag in before meeting Darbus. He stood in front of his locker blankly. He couldn't for the life of him remember his combination. He leant forward in frustration and banged his head on the locker. It let out a dull thud.

"Need some help?" He heard a voice say. It was Mike on his way to the principal's office.

"I uh, can't remember the combination." Troy said sheepishly. Mike reached into his bag and pulled out a science club badge. He turned to lock over and Troy saw a small keyhole in the back, maybe for a master key? After a few seconds of fiddling, the lock sprung open. Troy was surprised that Mike could do something as cool as that, as rude as that sounds.

"Hey thanks. How did you know how to do that?"

"Haha they always lock all the fun chemicals up so the science club had to learn tricks to get what we wanted." Troy nodded and Mike returned the gesture before walking off, wondering how he could not have given Mike a chance before, he really must have been a shit person.

An hour and a half later, Troy walked in the front door of his house absolutely exhausted both physically and emotionally. All he wanted to do was collapse and sleep for a week. Unfortunately his father had other plans. As Troy fell onto his bed, Jack walked in.

"Get changed and outside in 5 mintues." He used to talk to Troy this way sometimes but Troy always forgave him because he was his dad. Troy had been told Jack was his dad, but he didn't know it for himself, or remember it, so he wasn't going to give in and forgive Jack for talking to him this way.

"No I can't. I'm too tired and I don't wanna play anymore."

"Yes you do. Now get up NOW!" Troy sat up staring angrily at Jack.

"NO I DON'T WANT TO DON'T YOU GET IT!"

"BASKETBALL IS YOUR WHOLE LIFE TROY AND IT'S YOUR FUTURE SO GET UP!"

"NO! BASKETBALL IS WHAT STARTED THIS WHOLE FUCKED UP MESS DON'T YOU GET IT? I CAN'T PLAY ANYMORE! I CAN'T DO IT!" By this time Troy was getting hysterically and was beginning to cry. He was so scared. So scared to play again. To open those flood gates in case he drowned in what was behind them threatening his fragile existence. Jack grabbed him by the collar, almost choking him and threw him out the door. Troy stumbled to get his balance as he tumbled down the stairs. His shoulder made a horrible cracking noise making Troy hiss in pain as he felt all his blood rushing there. He knew he would have a black bruise by tomorrow. AS soon as Troy reached the landing in the hall he was hoisted to his feet roughly by jack and half dragged outside to the basketball court and thrown into it. Jack threw a ball at him.

"THIS" Jack said pointing to the ball. "IS ALL YOU ARE. IT IS WHAT MAKES YOU YOU AND WHAT MAKES YOU MY SON. YOU WILL PLAY BASKETBALL BECAUSE I SAY SO!" Troy didn't move from his crumpled heap on the side. Jack went over to him and kicked him in the ribs and Troy let out a grunt. He looked up at his father from his position on the floor, and looked over to the hoop. Suddenly, like a huge wave that robbed him of all his breath the memories came back. Years of abuse and derogatory comments washed over him threatening to swallow him if he couldn't not convince himself they were not true. He looked up at Jack, and recognised him as his dad, the one who made his life a living hell and made the one thing that they had in common, basketball, a torturous activity he was forced to live and bear everyday of his life. The memories of physical pain, and the ache of always trying to impress his father but constantly being reminded of how he didn't deserve the title of 'son' for his poor efforts. For years, Troy had given Jack his all, until that day, 6 months ago, when he finally realised he would never be good enough for jack, and because of this, his dad would never love him. Jack wouldn't ever love him for who he was, only for what he thought he could be. He had driven Troy to the edge and now he was doing it again. Troy curled up into a foetal position crying, trying to block out the memories that circled him, encasing him in his uselessness. He tried to fight them, but they would take him, as they had done before. He couldn't do it. He wasn't strong enough. Jack looked at the hopeless weak wreck on the floor, which was his only child, and he simply walked out to his car and drove off. Troy didn't even notice he had left. The pounding voices of 1000 Jack memories screaming abuse seemingly from inside his head was all that he could hear and he had his hands desperately scrunched over his ears trying not to hear.

He didn't know how long he lay there trying to escape, but after an eternity of fighting, he felt a pair of strong loving arms wrap themselves around him. Although he hated being alone, he couldn't stand this. If he thought someone cared, then his last barriers of numbness and anger would fade and he would lose himself to the darkness.

"No. Don't. Stop. Get off." He said desperately trying to fight the figure that was holding him. He felt two strong hands cup his face and firmly move his face until is was directly in front of that of his mother's, inches apart.

"No Troy. You listen to me. I love you more than anything else in this world. I'd die for you but I won't leave you alone right now." Troy stopped sobbing for a a few seconds, but he soon started again.

"No," he cried out desperately, knowing it was pointless to fight in this condition.

"It's ok Troy. I got you. We'll make it right." Troy whispered desperately finally trying to make her see.

"It can never be… right." Troy returned to full-fledged sobs.

A few hours later, Troy awoke in his bed, his mother's arms protectively wrapped around him firmly as she slept beside him. He didn't know how he got there: he supposed his mind had blanked out. He sat up and looked at her. She was so full of love and compassion. There was no one like her in the world. He loved her so much. She was the perfect woman, and the perfect mother. He looked at her for another minute, both glad for her, and sad that he was about to leave her. But she wouldn't get it. He couldn't stay here. He wanted to: To stay here and be strong for her. But if he didn't go now, he knew he would do something stupid and she would lose him forever. He carefully slid out of her grasp and replaced his form with a pillow. He quickly changed and packed a bag with some changes in clothes, a space blanket and his life savings which he kept in a shoebox full of old basketball cards he used to collect at the top of his wardrobe. He walked silently downstairs to the kitchen. He saw the clock. It was 1:29am. He grabbed some paper and scribbled down a note for Emma and Gabi, one that they would hopefully read together. It contained what he owed them both, and hoped that maybe it would make things ok for them. Then he wrote one for his mum. He wasn't sure what to write, so he wrote the truth.

"If I could be anything other than what I am, I want it tomorrow. If I could be what my father wants be to be, maybe I could stay for that to. If I could be what you want me to be, I would want to stay. But I am what I am and all I want is freedom."

He put both letter upstairs with his mum then ran out of the house. He ran all the way to the edge of town to the highway. He saw a truck coming along and he stuck out his hand. The truck slowed down and came to a stop next to Troy. The door opened and Troy climbed up the side to where the open door was.

"Where you headed?" The truckie asked.

"How far away from here can you take me?"

"Santa Fe far enough?"

"Perfect." Troy scrambled into the seat and closed the door. The truckie, a cheerful larger man, middle aged and slightly balding with huge bushy eyebrows and a thick southern accent honked his horn twice to celebrate his few found company and then they were off.

"Say goodbye Albuquerque." The driver said cheerfully.

"Goodbye Albuquerque." Troy whispered.