Hey guys sorry this took so long I got tonsilitus again… but here it is!
Troy and Jack sat on the steps outside the gymnasium for a long time. The presence was comforting to each party, and a comfortable silence grew: the silence of two men who just have to accept what was, having nothing left to lose. They watched as clouds began to roll overhead in the mid afternoon weather, but still they didn't move. The rain, if it were to come, would be if anything, comforting. Jack let out a long deep breath of tobacco smoke, and still without looking at Troy, began to speak.
"You know, I spent my whole life fighting my father… and now it's cost me my son." Troy said nothing, but Jack knew he was listening.
"'It is a wise father that knows his own child…' You never knew your grandfather, my dad. Least ways you wouldn't remember him… He was a businessman. He would work for 12/15 hours a day, sometimes more. I often wondered if he even realised he had a son… He hated that I wanted to play basketball instead of focusing on academics. He told me I was wasting my time and needed to become more like him. But no matter how hard he pushed; I was never going to be like him… So I started focusing more and more on basketball, because I wanted him to realise that life for me was about more than money and work … I told myself that if I ever had a son that I was going to let him be his own person… But you see I failed too. Despite the hours of time we spent together, I don't know you; I'm not sure I ever did… I always wanted you to play basketball because to me, that was being independent… I suppose I was trying to teach you how to be your own person… But I failed you; I mean; I turned out exactly like my father did, pushing his son so hard that he pushed him away…"
"But I know now that he was doing it because he loved me, and he wanted what was best for me-"
"How do you know?" Troy interrupted, looking over at Jack for the first time.
"I know that because of you… And I'll never get a chance to thank him for that." Troy just nodded and looked down at the ground. Turning his attention back to his cigarette.
"It's easier to live through someone else than to become complete yourself-"
"So you think that makes everything ok like what happened doesn't matter." Troy interrupted again; he didn't want to get angry but he couldn't help it.
"No of course not. There is no excuse for what I did – I could live a hundred years and never find one. And I'm not asking for forgiveness, because I wouldn't forgive me either. But I am asking for understanding... You're more like me than you think Troy."
"How?" Troy felt that he should have been getting angrier by the second. But he wasn't. Sitting with his father was only making him feel sad, realising the bonds of family, and that as much as he wanted to, he didn't hate the man in front of him.
"Don't forget you ran away too. From everything. And you lived through someone else- 'Trey Parker.' Wasn't it easier being Trey Parker than having to sort out all the emotional baggage that came with being Troy Bolton?" Troy said nothing, but soon gave a small nod. He knew his father was right. And all the hostility that had previously consumed him, he felt it flow out through his feet and return to the earth. He didn't hate Jack Bolton. He never could. Such are the ties that bind.
Troy walked back through the hallways of East High trying to remember all the good times and forget the bad. He was sure that underneath the layers of bad memories he had associated with this place, and despite all the pain, at one point he must have been happy here. Troy had attempted to find his teammates, but had failed- they were probably talking about him anyway so it was best he couldn't find them. So he decided to go to the auditorium and see if he could catch Emma's music performance.
Troy went around to the back of the theatre, an entrance he had learned about during the production of Twinkle Towne. He entered the backstage area to hear Emma's name being called. He silently crept through the curtains and towards the stage. He stopped when he could see Emma diagonally in front of him by about 1 meter sitting at the piano. She looked nervous. Mrs Darbus indicated for her to begin and she turned back around, to find herself facing Troy. He gave her an encouraging smile and so with newfound confidence, she began to play.
"Sometimes
I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings
At times I dread my now
and envy where I've been
But that's when quiet wisdom takes
control
At least I've got a story no one's told
I finally
learned to say
Whatever will be will be
I've learned to take
The good, the bad and breathe
'Cause although we like
To
know what life's got planned
No one knows if shooting stars will
land
These days it feels naive to put your faith in hope
To
imitate a child, fall backwards on the snow
'Cause that's when
fears will usually lead you blind
But now I try to under-analyse
I finally learned to say
Whatever will be will be
I've
learned to take
The good, the bad and breathe
'Cause although
we like
To know what life's got planned
No one knows if
shooting stars will land
Is the rope I walk wearing thin?
Is
the life I love caving in?
Is the weight on your mind
A heavy
black bird caged inside?
Say
Whatever will be will be
Take
The good, the bad
Just breathe
'Cause
although we like
To know what life's got planned
No one knows
if shooting stars will land
Whatever will be will be
I
learned to take
The good, the bad and breathe
'Cause although
we like
To know what life's got planned
Thing like that are
never in your hands
No one knows if shooting stars will land"
As she finished the song she looked back up at Troy, who was smiling at her. The truth was, her song comforted Troy. He knew he would be strong for her just as she would be strong for him, and eventually everything was going to be ok. He could never love her enough for showing him this. It was the gift of a second chance that they were both now ready for.
They heard the bell ring and Mrs Darbus, followed by the rest of the class, filed out of the auditorium. Emma remained on the stage, and after everyone had left, she turned back to Troy.
"Hey."
"Hey baby. That was beautiful."
"Thanks." Emma said, as Troy came and sat beside her on the piano stool. Neither of them spoke for a while as Emma watched Troy slide his fingers gracefully over the keys.
"I heard about what happened… Are you ok?" Emma asked quietly, not wanting to upset Troy.
"No. I'm not… But maybe I will be." Emma nodded. It wasn't what she had wanted. But she would take it. "What class do you have now?"
"Chemistry." Troy chuckled.
"Well, you could stay with me… and study 'chemistry'." He laughed again, surprising himself considering how his day had been.
"Yeah bad joke Troy."
"I know, but one of us had to say it." They smiled at each other. It's funny how bad jokes and stupid situations make up key moments in relationships, but they both know this to be true. They continued to smile at each other, enjoying the stillness of the moment, until Troy spoke.
"Can I come see you tonight?" Emma thought for a minute.
"Maybe."
"I'll take maybe." Troy smiled at Emma, just noticing and appreciating everything about her. After a minute or so Emma got up from the bench and gathered her things.
"I have to go I'm really late for class. Maybe you can call me later?" Troy smiled and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"Of course I will." With one more smile she was gone, and Troy was left alone in the empty theatre.
Troy walked around the dark auditorium hearing nothing but the sound of his own footsteps. He used to love this place as it held so many good memories, but now the eerie reminiscent feel was making him uncomfortable. Troy was trying to stop the constant flow of memories flooding into his mind when he heard the auditorium door open. 'She probably is practising for a new play' Troy thought as he watched Sharpay come down the aisle of the theatre and climb up the steps onto the stage. Troy snapped out of his mini trance and started for the door.
"Sorry, I'll leave you be. You must have practise or something."
"No wait-" Sharpay said, and Troy turned back to face her. "I didn't come here to practise… I came to find you, I've been looking for you."
"You found me." Troy said, nodding for her to continue.
"Yeah, right…" Sharpay replied, looking very nervous; a first for Sharpay.
"Is there something you wanted to say?" Troy asked, getting a little annoyed.
"No," Sharpay said defensively, Troy raised his eyebrows disbelievingly. " Well, yes. I… I wanted you to know that… well, it was me. I was the one who spoke to that journalist the other day, and those were my words in the article. I'm really, really sorry Troy, like so unbelievably sorry you have no idea. And I don't think I've ever said that to you before but I really mean it." Troy said nothing for a minute.
"And that's suppose to make it all ok? Make it all go away?"
"No! I just… I didn't want the others to pay for my mistakes by you thinking it was them, and I know you're paying for what happened so badly and I never meant for any of this to happen. It was selfish and horrible and I would do anything to make it up to you."
"Okay, then give me your car." Troy said with a straight, serious face.
"Um, not exactly what I had in mind. But, in true Sharpay fashion, I do have a plan… Maybe you wanna hear it?" Sharpay said hopefully.
"Thanks Sharpay but I think you've done enough… not even a miracle can help me now." Sharpay smirked.
"You always underestimated me Bolton."
"Fine then, I'll bite. What's this miracle plan you have then?" Sharpay gave him a sneaky, satisfied look, and the two went to work.
The cool night air blew Troy's hair across his face as he walked down the quiet Albuquerque streets. It was unusual for the weather to reach this low temperature at this particular time of year, but Troy found it refreshing. He arrived at Emma's house, his destination, and walked around the side until he came to her window. The curtains were closed so he knocked on the window in an attempt to avoid an embarrassing moment like if she was naked or something (although he probably wouldn't have minded, he was after all male). Barely 5 seconds later the curtains were pulled back and he saw a smiling Emma opening the window. He smiled back at her and hauled himself into her room. Once inside however, he found that Emma wasn't alone, but Gabriella, Kelsie and Taylor were with her.
"Oh sorry Emie, I didn't realise you had friends over."
"Yeah last minute girls night, although Sharpay couldn't make it. But stay for a little while."
"Oh I don't want to intrude." Then Gabriella spoke up.
"Oh nonsense Troy, we know how much you LURVE girls nights! You can help us do our hair, and paint our toenails sparkly pink; as we all drool over topless pics of Zac Efron of course! Then later, if you're really lucky, we can watch The Notebook!" All the girls fell about laughing. Even Troy had to laugh; it was pretty funny.
"Well if you insist- I mean, I'll get my revenge later when I dominate in the underwear pillow fight!" They all cracked up at that. Troy didn't remember the last time he had spent time with at least part of the gang, just hanging out and laughing. It felt really good. Weird yes, but good.
The next hour was spent just telling funny stories and laughing at stupid things people had done (unsurprisingly most had involved Chad). Troy had filled the girls in on some of his time since they last were around each other (the funny or happy parts), and they had done the same. As the laughter was dying down Taylor asked.
"Is it true you're getting kicked off the team?" Troy nodded.
"Most likely. It's not certain yet because it has to go through the board, but I'll know in a day for two. But the suits have never been big fans of mine, and they hate the bad press from this week, so most likely I'm off."
"Wow, that sucks. Sorry Troy."
"Oh it's ok. Well, it will be. When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window. And I have a plan…"
"Ooooh Really!?" Kelsie said excitedly.
"Really really little miss playmaker. But you all have to wait to tomorrow to see it like everyone else."
"Even me??" Emma asked feigning sadness. Troy laughed.
"I'm afraid so Princess, even you… Anyway, I should let you get back to your sparkly toes and Zac Efron ogling."
"Where are you going?" Asked Gabriella.
"Back to the hotel. Gotta face the team. But it was lovely being a girl for the evening with you all, and I'll see you all tomorrow at school… Woah whopper déjà vu!" Troy smiled at them all and winked at Emma before climbing back out the window. He closed the window behind him as Emma shut the curtains and had walked a few steps away when he changed his mind. Reversing back to the window he could hear the whispers of the giggling Gabriella, Kelsie and Taylor.
"OMG he soooo still likes you!"
"Are you guys going to get back together?"
"Oh that would be soo cute."
"So cute!"
"Do you wanna start over?" Troy listened especially hard at this one, he put his ear right up against the window. It was quiet for a second until, to his horror, Emma threw back the curtains and caught him red handed.
"Mister Bolton! Not dropping eaves were we?!" Emma said loudly
"No!" Emma gave him a testing look. "Ok maybe." Emma smiled and blew him a kiss before turning back around.
"Oh is that all I get!" Troy said pretending to be upset. Emma turned around and gave him another look. "Ok ok I'm leaving!"
Troy walked home with a smile on his face and a certain bounce in his step. If you had told him a few hours ago that he would be feeling this happy now he would never have believed it. But with a girl in his heart and a plan in action he almost skipped home, feeling like he could face a mountain lion and come out on top.
Next chappie
Troy / Sharpay's plan goes into action!!
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XOX