"Where are your sisters Logan!" Troy asked once again with his arms crossed, looking down at his son who was sitting down on the chair. Logan sighed, "what do you mean father? their both upstairs alseep." he lied. Troy smirked, "Tell me where your sisters are, or your grounded for a month." Logan's eyes went wide, "dad!-" "make it 2 months." Logan's mouth dropped, "alright I'll tell you." he was about to say something until josh opened the door bringing Sophie and Emily inside, "look who I found on the way home." Gabriella gasped, "Sophie! Emily!" Troy looked at them, "I'm dissapointed in both of you.. Sophie, you were suppose to set an example for her, and Emily, you've disobeyed me." Emily looked at him, "Dad, why can't you see that I love zac! I love him! and I want to be with him!" Troy sighed, "Go upstairs Emily." Emily began crying running up the stairs, Gabriella ran after her.
Logan came over to his father, "so dad, I'm not really grounded for two months, am I?" "Like hell you are!" Troy said through clipped teeth, like he was trying to keep his cool; like it wasn't just on the verge of near explosion. Emily balled her fists, bit her lip and turned away. She was very much like her father. A lot like him. "I hate you..." she mumbled, but still loud enough for everyone to hear. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop and then echo through out. Gabriella touched her shoulder, the young girl only backed away, and her eyes were blazing with fury. "I HATE ALL OF YOU!" she pushed passed them, going to the backyard, climbing up the rope ladder of the tree house; pulling it up so she wouldn't be disturbed. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream. And she couldn't do that with people barging in on her.
TGTGTGTGTG
With Zac.
He leaned against the wall, sitting on the floor in his room. His dad had long since gone to the couch, seeing as the trailer only had one room and Zac had it. He looked at his bed, where he and Emily almost-he chuckled dryly. He couldn't have anything could he? Nope. His dad was barely coping with out the drugs, and...his mom left when he was 10. It was him and his dad, and he was most likely the parent figure. He flipped his wrist over, seeing all the marks that marred it; to think that Emily would've seen those...sometimes doing it all becomes too much. And, he's got to find release from it all. Sighing, he scoots the small space to that black box under his bed, opening it to pull out a small pocket knife. Flipping it open, he attached the cold blade to his skin, slicing it through until his wrists were soon slowly painted bloody. Tears sprang into his eyes; and the ring that belonged to his mother seemed to burn his chest where it hung from his neck on a chain. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, cutting one more gash in his wrist. From then, all he knew was that physical pain. Not the emotional shit.
TGTGTGTGTG
"Troy," Gabriella said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "maybe...maybe we're being too harsh on Em-" he turned a stony gaze on her. "Brie, Zac is Jimmy's son, all right? He's probably like his father, a drug head and a loser." her eyes narrowed, and she tossed up the covers off the bed and straddled his lap so she could see into his eyes. "Troy Bolton, I'm sorry, but I am beginning to think we are being too harsh on Emily and Zac. So why don't we get to know him better-invite him to dinner." "WHAT?" Troy yelled, "Brie, that is-" "Is what Bolton?" she scowled at him, her voice sounding like a snake hissing at it's prey. He gulped, "a brilliant idea that I-I'll be happy to spread." she smiled, "Good. I'll go to the tree house and tell Emily."
Since Emily pulled up the front ladder to the tree house. Gabriella went to the other side and climbed up the tree house, and looked over at the sniffling Emily, "Hey Em, Can I come in?" Emily looked up at her mother, "what?" Gabriella smiled sadly coming over and sitting beside her, "Hey, me and your father are gonna give zac a chance." Emily looked at her, "Really?" Gabriella nodded, "Yes, we want you to invite him to dinner tomorrow night." Emily gasped, "Thank you, Thank you momma, you won't regret it, you'll love him.." she hugged her tightly, "I hope so baby girl.. I hope so."
TGTGTGTG
Emily walked through the halls, and looking all over the place for Zac. She finally spotted him, arriving at his locker, with a long sweatshirt hoodie on, and she smiled walking over to him. "Zac!" she ran to him, he looked at her and she ran into his arms, and looked up at him and kissing him passionately. Zac held her firmly. he missed her lips, he missed her in general. She finally pulled away, and whispered, "I missed you, and my parents are giving you a chance." he looked at her, "What? are you serious?" she nodded happily, "yeah, they invited you for dinner tonight." he sighed, "Em, your dad hates me." she grabbed his hand, "please..for me.. I love you." she gave him the puppy dog eyes.
He sighed, tugging on the long sleeve of his shirt, "Yeah..I'll be there." he whispered, Emily frowned, "Hey-Zac," she lifted his chin, "what's wrong? Is it Jimmy?" She called his dad by his first name. Zac shook his head, "No it's, I didn't get enough sleep last night- just...I'll be there." He squeezed her hand, bringing her knuckles to his lips and kissing them gently. "What time?" she smiled small, "uhm...I don't know uh...say 7:30?" He nodded, his eyes dark. "Yeah, I'll be there." he said again, putting her hand down and walking to his first class of the day. Gym. Emily sighed, watching him walk off. There was something going on with him; if it wasn't his dad...then what was it? Well, maybe Jimmy would know. "Hey sis, your...uh. fling is acting strange." she turned to see Logan behind her with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. "I don't trust him."
Emily groaned, "get over it! cause I love him! and his coming for dinner tonight." Logan looked at her, "what! dad's letting him come over!" Emily nodded with a smirk, "yeah, so don't even think about being rude to him." and with that she shoved past him walking to her first class.
TGTGTGTG
That night, Gabriella was finishing up dinner and Troy was setting the table. "you know, I don't like this idea." Gabriella sighed, looking at him, "You know, I really don't care.. this is for emily and zac.." she walked passed him into the other room telling logan and sophie dinner was ready. Emily went to go pick up zac. Sophie took a seat by her dad, on the left side, and on the right was logan, and Gabriella sat by Logan.
Emily and Zac walked onto the porch holding hands. Zac sighed, "Em, I can't do this.. your dad hates me." Emily sighed, wrapping her arms around him, "I love you.. that's all that matters, Don't let my dad bother you... please." he sighed, "em, but-" "shh... just kiss me and shut up." she kissed his lips chastly, and took his hand, squeezing it gently, and walking inside to where the family sat. "Guys, I'm home." they all looked towards Zac and Emily, Zac gulped nervously. Gabriella smiled warmly. "Zac, Welcome.. come have a seat." Emily smiled at him and grabbed his hand and they took a seat. Zac looked down at his hands as dinner was being passed around.
It was awkward at first, Logan and Troy were staring at him like he had grown two heads and a tail. Gabriella wanted to kick her husband, "So," she started, causing everyone -Zac included- to look at her. "Zac, did you just move to Albuquerque?" He nodded, "Yeah..uhm, I lived with my mom for three years of my life." "And your dad?" Troy asked, scrutiny in his tone. Zac gulped looking at him through his lashes, "uhm... me and my mom moved in with him when i was 5. I've been with him ever since." Emily looked at him, "what about your mom?" "She left when I was 10." he said curtly, looking down at his hands; the marks on his wrists feeling like they were burning his skin. "I wonder why..." Logan muttered; who had developed the same opinion of Zac as his father did. Sophie was in 'no-man's-land'. Zac snapped his eyes to Logan. "You got something to say Bolton? Huh?" his tone was threatening and a little louder than necessary. Logan glared at him, "I just said I wonder why your mom left? Then again I think I know." Zac puffed out his chest, his eyes beginning to blaze over with red, "Shut up! " he yelled, slamming his fists on the table, standing up and glaring at Emily's twin. "You don't know nothin' about my mother, so just keep your tongue in your mouth where it belongs! Usted sabe estupido perdedor nada! (You stupid know nothing loser!)" Gabriella's eyes widened, knowing what Zac had called Logan, but was keeping her mouth shut. Logan stood up too, "I don't know what you just said but you want to fight? Cause I'm ready for a fight-bring it!" Zac glared, "no se lo merece (your not worth it)." he turned to Emily, shaking his head, "i'm sorry, thanks for dinner." he said that last part to Gabriella.
The door closed, Emily sat there, and her eyes turned into a glare as she stood and turned her eyes on her brother. "You did that on purpose!" she yelled, Logan looked at her. "I simply don't trust him-" "Yeah well I didn't trust the last five girlfriends you had, and dad didn't keep you away from them! Nor did he keep Sophie away from West High's football captain! But when I start liking someone why is it me whose treated like their not allowed to have any sort of damn emotion!" Gabriella groaned, standing up as well, "Stop it!" Logan looked at his mother, Emily only looked down but still glared at her twin brother through her thick lashes. Gabriella's chest was heaving, Troy sighed, looking at Sophie, "Come on let's let everyone cool off." The oldest daughter nodded, following Troy to the back yard.
Troy and Sophie were outside, and Troy sighed rubbing his hand down his face. Sophie sighed, "I like him." she muttered. Troy looked at her, "What?" she sighed walking closer to her father. the father she ever knew. "I like him... I trust him with emily..." Troy just looked at her, It was silence for a few moments till Sophie broke the silence. "Do you?" Troy was about to speak, till the gate squeak open. Troy and Sophie's head snapped towards the gate, their eyes landing on Zac coming in. he sighed clearing his throat, "I'm..I'm sorry about tonight.. and I'm sorry I'm not good enough for Emily, but umm Here.." he handed Troy a beautiful charm necklace. "Can you give that to Emily..and tell her I can't see her anymore.."
Troy sighed closing the necklace in his hand, he felt the cold silver necklace against his skin. "what's this for?" he asked. Zac sighed, biting his lower lip, "I wanted to give her something to let her know I still love her.. but I can't be with her.. "
Troy looked at him, then at the necklace in his hand. Zac stuffed his hands in his pockets and began to walk away, he heard Troy's voice stop him. "I've never seen these things with out a cross." Sophie voiced her second, Zac turned with a knowing smirk, "it's not Christ, it's St. Jude." Sophie looked at him, "St. Jude...?" Zac nodded, biting his lip, "yeah...just can you tell her that I love her, I just can't be with her..." his voice cracked at the end.
Troy stopped him again, "Why can't you see her?" Zac stiffened, and turned around towards him. his hands still stuffed in his pockets. "I..I just can't.." Troy walked towards him, "what? is my daughter not good enough for you." Zac shook his head, "No, she's..she's perfect, I'm just a Worthless Loser who mom bailed on him, a parent himself taking care of his father that was never a father to him.. and you." he looked up at him, "You hate me, so I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted."
Troy blinked, "what do you mean you take care of your father?" Zac sighed, "Well, ever since I was 10.. when my mother left me, he didn't wanna take responsibility for me.." Zac started to have tears in his eyes, Troy stayed silent. "He started doing drugs, and became more violent... and used to beat me every night.. I rememeber this one night, he came after me with a baseball bat..my mom tried to stop him, he beat her too.." the tears began to fall, "after she left, he began doing it all the time, he didn't care how much he hurt me...and when I was 13.. I got him some help.. the beatings stopped, and I started taking care of him."
Troy looked at him, unsure of what to say. Sophie gasped, "Za-" "it's fine y'know, I'm fine...my dad-I'm taking care of him." he wiped at the tears that were rolling down his cheek. He squared his shoulders, looking at Troy with the intent on getting a message through his skull. "I love your daughter all right? I just-I can't be with her. I'm sorry." He turned on his heel, walking out of the backyard. Troy just stared after him, Sophie grabbed the necklace from his hand, "I'll give it to her." he nodded slowly, making a way to follow Zac. Sure, the young boy had basically bared his soul to him, but...something told him to follow the lad.
His hands were stuffed in his pockets as he turned into the busted gates of the trailer park. He sighed, feeling his eyes sting with tears once more; and once more, he willed them not to fall as he walked through the door of his home. "Dad..." he called, "I'm back." Jimy groaned, walking from the bathroom; looking paler than normal. Zac's eyes widened, rushing to his side as he stumbled, "Dad, what's wrong?" Jimmy shook his head, "Nothing, I just...ah, get me to the couch." Zac nodded, not paying attention to the window where two blue eyes peered into the house. "Dad, what's wrong? What did you do?" Jimmy looked at him, his eyes scrutinizing him. "I didn't do anything..don't assume-" "I'm just asking-" "Well don't!" Jimmy yelled, shoving Zac off him so hard that his head hit the wall behind him.
Jimmy eyes widened, "Za-Zac, I'm sorry I didn't mean t-" the 15 year old shook his head, stumbling as he stood. His vision was blurry, but he ignored it. "Don't." Zac said, Jimmy walked closer, "Son-" "I'm going to my room all right? See you tomorrow." He turned to walk in his room, Jimmy placed a hand on his shoulder; physical pain written on his face, but it didn't compare to what he felt when he hurt his son...again. "Please, I'm sorr-" Zac shook his head, "save it all right? I'm fine...see you tomorrow."
TGTGTGTGTG
The next day, Emily was waiting by Zac's locker. Hoping he'd show up, but it was five minutes before the first bell was due to ring. And still no sign of him. She sighed, putting her hair behind her ear, the necklace she was wearing felt like a weight on her neck. "Zac...where are you?" She mumbled, tightening her hold on her books. "Sis, can I talk to you?" she turned to see Logan, her eyes set in a scowl. "No." she turned and walked away, catching the eye of the football captain (Sophie's ex-boyfriend) as he looked at her like sweet eye candy. She nearly gagged. "Zac...where are you?" she repeated to her self as she walked into her first class and sat behind Lyle Danforth. Aka, her best friend.
Jimmy layed on the couch, groaning, and complaining. Zac walked into the room. "Dad.. your going to be okay.." he bit his lower lip, taking the wash cloth and soaking his forhead. Jimmy began breathing heavily. "Zac..I..I'm not feeling so well..." Zac began to have tears in his eyes, "Dad.. please...I..your what I have left.." Troy had just now showed up spying out the window where Zac couldn't see him. Zac had tears falling from his eyes, "Dad..Please..I..I don't have nobody else.." Jimmy's eyes couldn't stay open, he looked at him, "Son.. you have... Emily-" he shook his head, "Dad.. her.. her family hates me dad.. I..I can't be with her.." Jimmy shook his head, "They.. They don't hate you son.. it's me they hate..there's some things I never told you.." Zac bit his lip, "what are you talking about..."
Jimmy sighed, "Zachary, before I met your mom, I was on drugs.. really bad.. and well Emily's dad.. we did them together.." Zac bit his lip, Jimmy continued, "Well, Emily's mother was my step-sister at some point.. and well I did a really bad thing.. I raped her, and she ended up pregnant with sophie.." Zac's eyes went wide, backing up, "Sophie's your daughter.." Jimmy nodded, "That's why they hate me?" Jimmy nodded once more. Zac began to sob, and he rubbed his eyes, "I..I don't know what to say.." Jimmy sighed, "I'm sorry Zac, If I had the chance, I would take it all back for you to be happy...but I can't..I'm sorry for everything... I do love you son... very much." Zac bit his lip, "I love you too dad..please..don't leave me.."
Jimmy rubbed his back, his body was quivering violently, "Zac...Zachary, I don't-" Zac snapped his head up, "Dad...no, come on, let's get you to the hospital." Jimmy was barely breathing, but he managed a nod. Zac struggled to sit him up, but accomplished it. He staggered with his father to the bus stop; seeing as there was no car. "Hey," Zac looked up, seeing Troy walking toward them. "What do you want?" Okay, so Zac's question came out a little harsher than necessary. Troy took another slow step forward, "I want to help..." Zac narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth to retort, but Jimmy weakly said, "Let him..let him..."
Zac sighed, "okay." he muttered. Troy came over and helped Jimmy over to the car and driving them both to the hospital.