Standard disclaimer applies.
Note: It doesn't really have any impact on the plot, but the entire schedule of the school has been completely rewired starting from this chapter.
Heart of the Game
Part V
There was a flurry of muttering streaming through the classes, between the student and the teachers when the shrill siren of an ambulance penetrated the tranquil atmosphere of their classes. Many rushed to the windows to catch a glimpse of what was happening. Had there been an accident in one of the classes? Did one of the teachers have a heart attack and die? Did someone finally get food poisoning from the crap being served at the cafeteria? So many questions arising; the teachers did all they could to keep the commotion under control, but ultimately failed. There were even a couple who left the room to follow the path of the paramedics, partially to satisfy their own curiosity and for the rest to find out if there was anything they could help with.
Mrs. Darbus had been in the middle of her recitation of Hamlet to her class when the talking erupted and all students rushed towards the window to see the bright, flashing lights of the emergency vehicle. Where she would have normally apprehended all those unruly student, she opted to find out what had happened, and joined a few of the other teachers as they rushed to where the medics had disappeared to; the gymnasium.
"Did one of the student's get injured?" Mrs. Darbus asked through her thick framed spectacles, looking over at one of her colleagues.
"Don't know. Must be one of Boltons' kids, since they have basketball practice in the gym right now."
Nodding her head in agreement, the drama teacher chose not to continue the questions further. There was a tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach about the whole thing, and she didn't think that she was going to like whatever it is she would discover.
- - - - -
"Troy, come on, buddy. Where the fuck is that ambulance?" snapping his head away from Troy for the first time, Jack locked a distressed glare at the school's resident nurse that had arrived just a few minutes ago.
"I heard the siren wailing just a moment ago, Mr. Danforth is probably leading them this way."
She spoke the words not a moment too soon; as the doors flew open a fraction of a second later. Chad's pale, sweaty face came into view followed by two paramedic wheeling in the gurney.
"What happened here?" one of the asked, gently pushing aside Jack and the nurse and kneeling down beside Troy. He grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around just as the second medic rushed up to them.
"I don't know. One minute he was fine, the next we know he's passed out cold on the floor," Jack couldn't keep the worry from lacing his voice as he spoke, grabbing his hair in frustration at his helplessness as he watched the paramedics work on Troy. At that moment, the frantic mess that was his mind suddenly stopped, the voiced turned into muddled mumblings and all sounds of the frantic gym disappeared completely. Jack didn't know what happened, or what he could do. His eyes staged glued firmly to the still form of his son lying motionless of the floor without a single sign of awareness no matter what the medics did or said. He thought he could vaguely make out the words 'pupils dilated and unresponsive to light' and 'high blood pressure' but he couldn't be certain. Everything was just one big mess at the moment, and for the first time since the birth of his child, Jack felt like curling up on the floor and cry, but not tears of happiness.
"We've got to get him to the hospital as soon as possible."
"I'll ride with him!" finally able to separate the incoherent noise in his mind from the real world, Jack immediately replied, looking anxious at Troy as they strapped him to the gurney; his eyes remained closed.
The entire gymnasium had gone silent; left was the frequent panting of Chads' as the reality of the situation, plus the ache he'd suddenly developed in his legs as a result of the speed he'd run to call the ambulance and lead them to Troy, hit back with a vengeance.
No one turned when the entrance door burst open once again and in came Mrs. Darbus and a couple of the teachers that had come to check up on the happenings. They were brusquely ignored, stepping aside as the medics wheeled the gurney towards the door, heading to the ambulance in which they'd be transferring Troy to the hospital in. Jack followed in step, walking at the side of his son, hand keeping a firm grip on Troys' and the rest of the people present trailed behind them. Though they would probably not be allowed to accompany him to the hospital, they were intent in being with Troy at least till the very last moment.
The hustling out the gym room, through the deserted hallways and to the ambulance took an eternity in Jacks' mind. He vaguely saw curious glances from the students in the classrooms as they passed, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered other than Troy.
He stood to the side Troy was loaded into the back on the ambulance before crawling in as per the medics' instructions. He left no parting word to the crowd of players that had gathered, eyes shining with worry as to the condition of they friend and teammate, or the teachers. As the doors closed, the engine started up and the sirens began their wail once again, Jack could only sit helplessly on the side, both hand grasping Troy's and he planted a kiss on his son's knuckles. "Hang in there, Troy."
The lingering silence left by the waning sound of the ambulance's siren overwhelmed.
Chad wanted so bad to go to the hospital and be with Troy through whatever means possible. But he found that he had an obligation to inform Gabriella of what had happened, rather than leaving her to hear it through the rumours that were soon to circulate around the school.
Leaving the company of his team who were still staring at the horizon where they could still make out the red and blue lights of the ambulances' signal as it reflected on the buildings in the distant, Chad rushed up the stairs and took a turn to the left, following the hall that would lead him to Gabriella's class that was located near the other end of the school.
But the one things that kept repeating over and over in his mind was whether his assumptions had been right and Troy had been doing drugs. He'd lost a few relatives to athletic related drug problems and just the thought of Troy…no, he refused to even consider the possibilities. He didn't know what sort of drugs Troy might have been taking, and perhaps there was just that little chance that it wasn't quite as bad as he'd thought it out to be…maybe.
- - - - -
"Sharpay!"
Snapping around as his furiously hushed whisper, Sharpay kept her eyes on her twin brother as he quickly and casually made his way towards her. Gabriella had also heard his call, and bent down to look at the approaching Evans through the space over the table she was sitting across from Sharpay.
Quickly taking a seat next to his sister and motioning for Gabriella to lean in closer so that the teacher wouldn't overhear.
"I saw an ambulance parked out in front of the school just now," he stated to the point, casting a worried look at Gabriella and his sister. "Do you think…?"
"Ms. Montez, Mr. and Mrs. Evans…is there something you wish to share with the rest of the class?" the science teacher had a hand to her hips and she directed a firm look at the three people in question.
Gabriella had never been a mean person at heart, but it was at this exact moment that her sadistic side arose, and she vaguely wished that the pregnant teacher would suddenly get contractions, have her water break…anything! just so that Ryan could finish whatever he had to say.
All there had just barely opened their mouth to answer when there was a loud cry of; "Gabriella!" and Chad appeared at the door of the laboratory, out of breath. He seemed to be out of breath quite frequently lately, and that was not something he was personally proud off. He was a basketball player; he should have more stamina than that.
"Mr. Danforth, how nice is it for you to join in interrupting this class--"
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but I really need to talk with Gabriella. It's important!"
Noting the frantic way in which he spoke, the teacher gave a resigned sigh and nodded to Gabriella who immediately jumped to her feet and rushed out, following Chad. Her face lined with worry as she felt a skip in her heart beat at the fear of what Chad had to say.
"I think Mr. Danforth had just been calling Ms. Montez; Mr. and Ms. Evans," she raised an eyebrow when noticing that they two had also gotten out of their seat to follow.
"Oh, Sharpay and Ryan too!" Chad appeared once again, motioning for the twins to follow him.
The teacher just gave another exasperated sigh but agreed nonetheless. The four made their way out of hearing range, leaving the rest of the students and an ignored Taylor to their confusion.
"Chad…" Gabriella had her hand up to her chest as he attempted to calm the frantic thumping of her heart. "Is it Troy?" she gulped, needing, but afraid to hear what the answer would be.
Chad just nodded his head morosely. "He did it again earlier with the coach and got slapped for it. The next thing we know, he's out cold on the floor."
"Oh, God," gasping, Gabriella leaned against the wall for support.
"What's wrong with him?" Sharpay asked what Gabriella had been wanting to ask, but was unable to and she moved to the distressed girls' side.
"I don't know. The medics didn't say anything either, but from the way they acted, it looks bad."
"Do you think it's the result of…what you said earlier?" the smile usually on Ryan's face was gone and he looked from Sharpay to Gabriella and to Chad for answers.
"I don't know either…maybe…but--"
"I have to see him. I have to be with him," Gabriella muttered, as much to herself in her daze as to the rest of her companions, feeling the teary droplets slide down her cheek and spill onto her blouse.
"What about school?"
"To hell with school," Chad cursed slowly, looking at Ryan then at the two girls who just nodded in agreement.
"How're we going to get there?" Ryan asked soon after; it wasn't that he had any trouble with skipping out in school, especially when it was important, it was just one of those obvious 'statements of the moment' that was ever present during any case of emergencies.
"I think I may be of some assistance."
Surprised at the familiar voice and the presence of the ever eccentric drama teacher, Mrs. Darbus, all four the teens took an involuntary step back.
"Excuse us, Mrs. Darbus?" Sharpay repeated, unable to really comprehend the words of the woman. "But…are you drunk?"
"No, Sharpay, I am not drunk. I am merely offering my assistance to you in these dire moments. Because, well, I would be a liar not to admit that I have grown quite fond of Troy Bolton," she confessed, throwing her dark purple shawl over one shoulder. "And…I'll just leave the rest up to your imaginations, no matter how--limited it may be. Now come, children. Let us board the carriage of the stars and bring our souls to where it is meant to reside."
When there was no movement or sound of footsteps following behind her, she turned back to face the bemused expressions on the faces of the four teens.
"Umm--Like…what?"
"Oh, let us get to the hospital immediately," she rolled her eyes when a look of realization flashed over their faces before the four mouthed an 'o' and quickly jogged up to catch up with her.
The last thing people saw as the five passed by their classrooms was the stringy ends of Mrs. Darbus' shawl billowing behind her as she swaggered off in the direction of the teachers' parking lot, four students in tow.
To be continued…
Couldn't not include the loveable Mrs. Darbus, now could I?…Okay, so I could have left her out, but what the heck. More people to angst over Troy is always a joy to read, aye? Besides, isn't she one of the two teachers in the movie that are actually allowed to speak their lines instead of miming it out? Besides, I like the old coot.
